—By Marisa Treviño

The word is that, after being distracted by the "Palin Effect," the Obama campaign is back on track to focus on what this election is all about — the issues.

The candidates who really matter in November.
(Source: ABC news)

However, after reading comments on Latina Lista and several other blogs, the Obama campaign may not get very far with that strategy because suddenly in people's minds the race to the White House isn't between John McCain and Barack Obama anymore — it's between Obama and Sarah Palin.

It would seem people are already assuming a short future for McCain and looking ahead to place Palin in the Oval Office. While I believe in being prepared for every scenario, it's time to deal with the present and compare the two candidates who are actually heading each ticket.

Right now, comparing Obama with Palin is such a non-issue that it focuses more attention on her than she deserves, and that seems to be a strategy of the Republican Party.

It's time voters reclaimed this election and stopped being swayed by gender or race and looked to see which party actually cares about the middle class and poverty-stricken who are bearing the brunt of this bad economy.

If ever there was a time that the future of this nation depended on that analysis, it's now.