Poker Legend Doyle Brunson Appears to be Leaning Towards John McCain
Just when it seemed Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama appeared to be getting up from two weeks of knock downs from Republican tag team John McCain and his running mate Sarah Palin, one more jab was leveled his way...this time from poker legend Doyle Brunson.
The Texas Dolly, who had previously told Gambling911.com he would be voting Democrat for the first time in his adult life (which is more than 100 years by some estimates), Brunson delivered another blow to the Obama campaign.
In his latest blog entry, however, which was posted on his blog at Doyles Room last Friday, Brunson wrote: "It's hard to believe, but McCain has taken the lead in the Presidential race. They rolled the dice when they chose Governor Palin to run for Vice-President and they threw a seven, because she really turned things around for the Republicans."
Brunson then continued: "It's hard not to be in McCain's camp after listening to his life story. He really is an American hero. I'm not sure either Presidential candidate is the right person to lead our country over the next few years."
Brunson then concludes his political analysis with some wishful thinking: "I wish Hillary was still in the mix because that would mean Bill would be around and he proved he could lead us."
Tom Somach of PokerHelper.com and frequent contributor to Gambling911.com wrote:
Brunson's apparent support of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as McCain's running mate-using craps parlance he called her a "seven," the best roll in that dice game-is a direct contrast to the comments recently made by another top poker pro on his blog.
The Republican party platform contains language that would ensure online poker remain illegal. However, John McCain, a known gambler, earlier commented that online gambling prohibition was not a priority of his. And Sarah Palin, while steadfastly against the spread of gambling in her home state of Alaska, is rumored to be a skilled poker player herself, as is Barack Obama.
While the party platform looks to appease conservative groups who seemingly deplore gambling (though many like the state lotteries and horse racing), a few high profile Republicans have acted as allies to the burgeoning industry: Among them, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas and one time New York Senator Alfonse D'Amato, who acts as an outspoken Chairperson for the powerful million member strong Poker Players Alliance.
Poker players at large have plenty at stake depending on who gets elected, though some would argue that neither candidate will help or hurt the online gambling industry.
Then again, it probably wouldn't hurt to get Obama and his running mate, Joe Biden, into office.
On Tuesday, Gambling911.com reported on how Joe Biden's son was working as a lobbyist for none other than PartyGaming, one of the industry's largest online poker companies.
"You'd think everyone would be solidly behind Barack "Bam" Obama if for no other reason than there's at least a .012% chance that poker is carved-out of the UIGEA if he's elected (hell, his VP's son was lobbying for it), reports Wicked Chops Poker, which spent some time interviewing professional poker players about who they would be voting for. Most were tight-lipped, though one - Hoyt Corkins - said he would like to b*** Sarah Palin. He's even bought the Sarah Palin school girl action figure.
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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher
