I’m probably not the only person who thinks she votes from reason but really votes, at least sometimes, from a deeper, maybe more primitive place.

That’s why I can’t get behind Hillary Clinton, who is much “better” on most issues I care about, but am ready to join the Barack Obama snowball.

This really hit me over the head yesterday when I was researching candidate positions on issues related to aging. If  you want to read the responses to the Leadership Council on Aging questions, to which only three candidates bothered to respond, all of them Democrats, go here.

The bottom line: Clinton’s ideas and plans are richer, deeper, more specific, more nuanced, and altogether better.

And I still can’t bring myself to support her. Like many Democrats, she believes that logic will lead us to a better future. Her appraisal of Obama’s campaign as too much about words is quite accurate. And yet, it’s Obama who inspires faith and hope.  Part of that faith and hope is that he -- and other candidates--will put some real plans behind those promises of  "change" they're all making.

I’m still interested in using real information and good evidence to inform my decisions. Suddenly, that’s gotten a lot easier. If you haven't heard about Project Vote Smart, you should.

The Downtown Rotary is hearing about this “mammoth research organization” and database  as I write. And the Vote Smart bus is parked at the War Memorial Center today only. If you get down there before 4 pm, you’ll have a chance to test one of the most important tools for democracy we’ve had in a long time.

For 16 years, this organization has been developing information delivery platforms and databases that are non-partisan, thorough, and easy to use. The project got its start with the help of William Proxmire and Barry Goldwater, among others.

So for the real poop, go to votesmart.org. Sniff around: you’ll be amazed at what you can learn about the more than 100 presidential candidates--and local elected officials as well. And if you don’t like computers, you can telephone and ask your questions of a living, breathing researcher. Call 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762). All you’ll need is your nine digit ZIP code. Don’t know it? Find out here.