Undecided voters are like Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet. Elizabeth thought she knew who people were. She thought she knew whom she liked and disliked. But now she's starting to reevaluate. Obama, like Wickham, talked a good talk. He charmed us, he romanced us. He looked dashing. We were attracted. But Romney is like Mr. Darcy. On first impression, just a proud, rich man -- distant and unlikable. Besides, Wickham tells us Darcy is bad. But now we're starting to see Mr. Darcy/Romney more. We've gotten to know him better. It's dawning on us: He is a good man. Yes, rather formal. But we see the evidence, we hear the accounts. He is not who Wickham said he was. We're thinking fresh thoughts about who is worthy of our trust.


LINDA HAMMER, MINNEAPOLIS