This piece originally appeared today on The Huffington Post, 11 January 2008.

Dear Senator Obama,

Congratulations on your big win in Iowa. I was thrilled and recently posted an article about your campaign putting a lot of effort into young people and women, who used to be the least likely to vote. Then, as we all know, a large number of women cast their votes for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire. The primaries in my state haven't happened yet, but I'm part of the under-thirty, female demographic that is now considered yours out of hand. But I am undecided.

There's no doubt you are inspirational. Among some of my progressive friends and loved ones, questioning you in what would normally be common sense when choosing the next leader of the free world, seems to have become sacrilege. Indeed, like New Hampshire voters, the mainstream media and others waving palm branches and all but naming you the messiah, have tried making up my mind for me. The same as they did to voters not so long ago when declaring Hillary the expected nominee. But I've heard you talk about the dangers of anointing you the inevitable winner, so perhaps you'll read on.

My generation grew up witnessing the ineffectiveness and downright corruptness of US politicians. We've also witnessed you in all your inspirational glory motivating unlikely groups to get out and vote. You're indeed a breath of fresh air. So far, we've heard your ideas, but before I personally can drink the kool-aid, I need plans.

I care deeply and have written on my concern about healthcare and caregiving, since two of my young children are disabled. One is in a wheelchair with spinal cord cancer, and one has Autism (and with 1 in 150 children having Autism, this is surely not an issue unique to me). So of course, the first place I looked was into your healthcare plan. Luckily, that's one full-scale plan I can download from your website. From your speeches, I fully expected to find something creative and new to help support us and others dealing with Autism and all other disabilities, something concrete. Unfortunately all I found was that you express support for things already in place in this area when you took office as Senator (while other candidates do more).

Yet my reason for writing you is definitely not only Autism or healthcare. In fact, I like your foreign policy ideas. You and Hillary both want to cut taxes for the middle class, and I like both of your stances on international and domestic poverty issues. Your immigration ideas are nearly the same as well. Your civil rights and women's issues platforms are stellar. You and Hillary also both say you won't pander to corporate interests -- well, this one I'll have to see to believe from any politician.

Change. Alright, we get it. The change message is just starting to seem "Kerryesque" -- only with more charisma. At this point anyone on a democratic ticket will bring dramatic change. And I hear many saying they like Hillary, but can't vote for her because she's polarizing, or pro-establishment. Beyond over-scrutiny this can't be the case, since both of you have progressive and very similar platforms. In fact, I think it's an outright myth, spoon-fed to us by the same people who said her tears would end the Clinton campaign.

Alright, I know at this point you think I'm against you. But I'm not. I'm trying to figure out how to support you. The glitzy media coverage and superb speaking ability just isn't really doing it for me anymore. I need to feel confident of other leadership traits; broad platitudes, or wanting to have a beer with you don't cut it. I'll leave falling for a personality cult to the mega-church-attending religious community. Lack of critical thinking is what got The Decider elected.

But I have a hunch you're more than just an enchanting speaker. So show us specifics. The "yes we can" changes you propose sound exciting -- how will you do it? Not just, within the first 100 days I'll require this or that...Where will you get the money and how much will it cost? How long will it take? What makes your plan realistic in getting the wealthy to actually pay taxes instead of sending money off-shore? When your website says things like: "Obama will secure all loose nuclear materials in the world within four years." Tell us HOW.

While Senator Clinton has had plenty of time to show us some of her plans, she only just started showing us her personality. We definitely need more plans from her too of course, but she has more federal-level experience on her side. It would be encouraging to see that vivid personality you've shown us take a turn to start including some concrete plans. This is the only way we can make a well-rounded choice between you.

Like many, I'm enthusiastic about this election. I've set up voter registration links on my blog and taken voter registration forms to my daughter's pre-school. I've written about the presidential race, but not decided on a candidate. I'd like to take the next step and start volunteering for a campaign: give me and other undecided voters some concrete reasons it should be yours. Show us you're ready not only to brainstorm, but to lead.

Sincerely waiting to see more,
Kim Mance

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Kim Mance blogs about religion's affect on culture and politics in anticipation of her book "Religiarchy".