Every election is determined by what experts call a defining issue.
But whatever that secret magic issue that galvanizes the public, happens to be, the first political party that can find that issue, grab it and run with it, will score big with the electorate, and usually win the election. This year, poll after poll has shown that the No. 1 issue on people's minds is not taxes, not the debt, not even crime, but health care. Yes, health care is No. 1 for between 80 and 90 per cent of respondents in public opinion polls. Nothing else matters as much. It was essential.