I offered “Shmom Schmeider” a sizable-to-me-but-big-blind-to-him wager on the outcome of the US presidential election. I even was willing to give up a few points on behalf of Obama, but he wanted to bet it straight up for “any amount” because he’s obviously a little bit of an Arizona homer with the hots for Sarah Palin … so, um, yeah, I’m thinking about borrowing some zeroes if ya know what I mean. So any of you with a few extra (tens-of?) thousands lying around, please be in touch.

He also probably doesn’t realize I have the inside scoop with the ongoing Pokerati presidential poll (to your right).

(Am I the only one surprised that Duplicate Poker is still alive and kicking?)

Evidently, Duplicate Poker has players. And 1,639 of them were willing to complete surveys about the upcoming presidential election and their intended votes.

Obama took it by nearly a 2:1 margin – 1,043 votes for Obama, 596 votes for McCain.

Other results of interest:

Stronger ticket: Obama (1,167) v. McCain (499)
Predictions for victory: Obama (1,117) v. McCain (538)
Race as a factor: Yes (737), No (915)
Deciding issues: Economy (602), Vision for America (379), Iraq war (348)
Most decisive voters: Women (575), African-Americans (541)

The survey was conducted from September 4-6, and all respondents were U.S. citizens, 87% of whom were men ages 18-54. Average income of the surveyed was $77K, average education was college graduate, and online poker frequency was twice per week.

Take it for what it’s worth, but it is the first survey done of poker players on the upcoming election.

Here’s an updated article from the non-poker world about this Republican platform plank. I take much interest in what the non-poker commenters have to say — seems they are starting to understand our single-issue/special interest even though they are just starting to see the tip of the online poker iceberg.

Reason Magazine is on top of it, too.

And take a look at how the comments are running within their own party about the issue. (Not sure this link will take you directly to the page I am looking at, but do a search for “gambling” and you will see that our point of view has about 99 people in favor, and 1 against,)

The Republican Party has made its intention very clear. They want to render internet gambling illegal, and whether we like it or not, their definition of gambling includes poker.

Earlier this week, when the Republican Party’s national platform was released, internet gambling was notably absent from it, which immediately garnered much praise from the Poker Players Alliance (PPA) and poker media. But within hours, it was back in with harsh language:

Millions of Americans suffer from problem or pathological gambling that can destroy families. We support legislation prohibiting gambling over the Internet or in student athletics by student athletes who are participating in competitive sports.

Nice flip-flop. With McCain hoping to head up the Republican Party and presumably pursuing the goals of the party, internet gambling – and thus, internet poker – will be on the hit list in the name of family values. It brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week from Gov. Bill Richardson: “McCain may pay hundreds of dollars for his shoes, but it will be us who pays for his flip-flops.”

Think what you want about McCain v. Obama and Republicans v. Democrats. That is each person’s individual prerogative. But the Republican Party has made its goals quite clear. Not only did it remove the language and quietly replace it later in a seemingly planned intention to deceive, but the party sincerely plans to tell the American people what we can or cannot do in the privacy of our own homes. Poker is on the line here.

Stand up and make your voice heard.

Tell John McCain how you feel about his party’s platform.

Register to vote in the November 4th election.