I love that the house I chose happens to belong to the candidate I voted for! Go Obama!

Why no square footage on Obama's?

Dang. Apparently politics pays pretty well.

Art--

There's no square footage on McCain's, either.

omg, i have such a crush on obama... i could totally call that place home!

It came down to D or E for me, and I went for the lake view...*sigh*...I crossed party lines...

McCain's is little.

Based on its looks and how those houses usually measure, Obama's is at least 3,000 sf. A larger number wouldn't surprise me, but I don't have a good sense of how deep it is, nor how much attic or basement is finished space.

McCain's 2-BR condo is most likely in the neighborhood of 1,800 sf, certainly not smaller than 1,200. (I know -- that's a lot of variance, but I can't figure out what building it's in from that aerial angle.)

I crossed party lines, too.

My mistake,

McCain's is not little as it is made up of 2 entire units.

I just thought it would only be fair to list s.f. of all the big homes for consistency.

Michael - I almost went for the lake too, but then I envisioned the Georgian in the summer, with leaves on the trees, and city living won me over. And while I'd never vote for him, if Romney wanted to have me over for swimming, I wouldn't say no.

How do you consider Mitt Romney's place "contemporary?" It looks more like a medieval dungeon to me (how apt). And considering it is right on a lake, I find it ironic that his party is so oblivious and reckless to the environment. I hope he wakes up one morning to find the lake greeting him in his living room. Global warming? What global warming?

Hillary's house seems like a series of misguided additions upon additions. It's a Cape Cod. It's a Dutch Colonial. It's a Salt Box. It's a Victorian. I hope she does not flip flop like her house.

Huckabee lives in a typical McMansion.

McCain's pad reeks of empty nest and "I'm too old for stairs."

It seems that Obama has the house with the most integrity. I'm no fan of Georgian, but at least it is what it is, and it has been maintained/restored faithfully. It is not haughty and ostentaious, yet it declares that a person of means and integrity lives here. Maybe that is all we need to know.

oh no, I voted for Romney. eeeek!

Not sure why they cant give us the front of Hillary's house. It's nice.

Obama's is nice too. I just drove by it a few weeks ago. It's the lot next to this that Rezko bought when Obama closed on this house -- and is giving him (BA) all the trouble. Still huge, empty corner lot to the left which is really nice.

I voted for Obama's, and I didn't cross party lines.

Huckabee's McMansion is too much. Hehehe... What sort of person actually signs on the dotted line for *that*?

And hejiranyc: I too, not only hope that Romney wakes up to the lake in his living room, but that it brings in oily sludge and something decomposed.

I like Hillary's house too, it is more homey and can you imagine how much light there is inside with all those big windows? I don't know why the photo doesn't show the front and why the photo would be when the grass is all brown. But this is just a fantasy vote so I chose the lakefront. Including the view of the lake was an unfair slant anyway.

There's no way the McCains actually live in a condo tower in Phoenix. They (his wife) are worth around $50 million -- money made from encouraging drunk-driving via the ownership of the third-largest Anheuser-Busch (Bud/Michelob) distributorship in the nation. I once heard that on a Saturday night in Phoenix, 1 out of 10 cars is driven by a DUI/DWI driver.

My guess is that they actually live in PV -- not Projectile Vomit, as would make sense all around, but Paradise Valley.

I'm glad my favorite house is my current candidate's (Hillary Clinton). My actual preferred candidate was John Edwards, because I'm a Democrat, but he suspended his campaign.

Hilarious how y'all (ahem, hejira...) are projecting the ideals you think or hope your candidates or anti-candidates do or don't possess onto their homes.

Book, cover, much?

And please, this is exactly why they call the front of a house "a facade."

But are people not disturbed that these are all MANSIONS by typical American standards??? Another case of politicians "representing the people."

Also funny how NOW it is "Hillary's house". Didn't it used to be Bill's house? ;)

Carol123--
Perhaps his wife?

And hejira, if he wakes up to a lake in HIS living room, NYC will LONG be underwater, and you will get no sweet laughter as reward for your ill will. Unless you can laugh through a snorkel.

"oh no, I voted for Romney. eeeek!"

ditto! But its still a nice house... love the shade and the lake. So nice for getogethers like barbeques, family weddings, etc.

Choosing this one must be the revenge of my Republican parentage...

patrick (the other one)--

Huckabee's an evangelical sooo... perhaps his male lover?

;)

Doubt. The Gays have better taste.

;)

If you know the candidates, these were pretty obvious. I knew I'd be crossing party lines before I voted. :)

(Gregory-- Brilliant post, btw!)

art: it wasn't an intentional omission...I just couldn't find any quotes on the actual size of the Obama's home or McCain's 2 unit condo. If anyone knows either, I'll add them.

I too was won over by the lake. What can I say?

Woo! My favorite house (House D) belongs to my favorite candidate (Barack Obama)!

I'm such a history geek, and it looks like he may be, too.

I live in Chicago and picked the one that looked most like it would fit it that city, so I'd line up with my candidate :)

I liked Barack's house best. Meanwhile, it really depends on where you live whether these are considered mansions.

Curtis--

How many times over could your apartment fit in any one of these homes?

I could envision my aquatic family splashing in the lake, while I watch from a lawn chair, shouting about sunscreen or floating on that little sailboat, so I voted for E for the sake of family fun, but D is the classy, historic kind of house I dream of, GO OBAMA!! P2. Why the sq footage issues???

It just occurred to me that Romney's house is staged for the photo shoot to look like it's on a lake -- but actually it's surrounded by a moat.

I absolutely adore Lake Winnipesaukee (yay New Hampshire!) but I'd be loathe to enter Romney's house, even if it is beautiful. Personally, I like Obama's more.

P(2), yes, I gots snorkeling skills. But do you think they would possibly allow Manhattan to become submerged? Sea wall much? Ever heard of Holland? Duh.

And, yes, I think ones house speaks volumes about ones character. Would Jesus live in a McMansion?

If church is God's (Jesus') house, I would say Jesus lived(s) in the grandest of mansions.

This is a great post, I love reading everyone's comments. As it's fun to look at the candidate's homes, the most important thing to remember is to VOTE today!!!

YES YOU CAN! :-)

Gregory - great post!

I could pretty much nail whose home was whose, and although the lake home was appealing, the classical stylings of Barak's Chicago classic won me over.

I'm sure Hillary's would look better from the front.

P2 - Facade is totally correct! That's how I could put them together. And perhaps what ultimately turned me off to the lake home...

I picked Obama and voted for him today, yay me! fun post.

Since the last place on the planet I would want to live is in a "new" traditional style home , I crossed the party line and chose McCain, as it at least had the possibility of being somewhat of the current century... then I found out it was located in Phoenix... I guess I would rather stay in my 274 sq ft, 100 year old studio.

(Obama's house would be my second choice, at least it is actually old... The other houses seem to be recreations, trying to harken days of yore...)

hejira--

Jesus wouldn't run for office. He'd be too busy building the sea wall to protect your precious Manhattan pied-a-terre.

Good lord.

Pun intended.

The Clinton house (actually old, but not actually Dutch nor actually Colonial): http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0CE4DC103BF93AA1575BC0A96F958260

This was fun. Not peeking I voted C, but almost for E.

I like the countryness of the Hillary Clinton's place. It looks like a barn on the side. I wish we could have had a front view as well.

Romney's looks like a super fun place to stay at with my family. A lot of people are putting him down here, but his place sure got a lot of votes! Personally, I like him.

well, they're ALL mansions or nearly-mansions really... except for McCains.

you super Tuesday voters really have the power, use it wisely. so much at stake, GO VOTE!!!

Even if I hadn't immediately known Obama's gorgeous Hyde Park Georgian on sight, it would have gotten my vote. I have a serious weak spot for houses with history.

got all of them right... (oh, do I ever hate the McMansion!)

Can we see where McCain really lives? (because I'm guessing that he's got a big place in/near DC.)

I once appraised a senator's condo. It was clearly not his primary residence even though it was his office residence for political purposes.

Here are shots of the front of Hillary's house.

The house I chose is Barack Obama's the same person I voted for this morning. Yes we can.

Lisa,

Thanks for the Hillary house front shot link. That snow picture is just gorgeous!

And the first comment was funny considering the comments on this thread. "I expected a bit more of house owned by a former President of the United States. I guess the Americans don’t make very much money as a politician..."

lol a moat!

I chose Obama's, since its style is similar to my house (but probably much bigger than my 1700sf).

Don't forget -- the picture is of Romney's *vacation* home. (And he probably has more than that one). His "regular" home is quite plush also, on a huge, private lot, set way back from the street in the hoity toity section of Belmont, Massachusetts (Belmont Hill). But I haven't been able to find a picture of it online to share -- it would be more difficult to snap a picture of...

Alan-

Let me start by saying that you are a moron. McCain actually does live in a condo in Phoenix. He recently moved there from a house that he lived in for over twenty years, also in Phoenix. Now that he only has one child still living at home, I guess he figured that he doesn't need as much room as he did when he had four children living at home. McCain has never lived in Paradise Valley, or "Projectile Vomit" as you so kindly put it. And what is your basis for such a description? Have you ever lived in PV? It's hard for me to believe that someone can have such a strong opinion about something he knows so little about.

Speaking of knowing so little....what justification do you have for asserting that Cindy McCain made her money by encouraging drunk driving? If you would pull your head out your ass and do some research, I think you would find that Hensley & Co. is a nationally-recognized leader in campaigns to reduce alcohol abuse, underage drinking and drunk driving. In fact, just last week (SuperBowl week), Hensley sponsored a safe-ride program throughout the greater Phoenix area, in which Hensley provided discount coupons ($10-$20 off a ride) at select bars and restaurants and at special events, providing people with a discounted ride home and a free ride back to their cars the next day. Is this what you mean by "encouraging" drunk driving?

Next time I would suggest thinking before you begin to espouse on something you know nothing about.

ekd, I used to live in Tempe, I'm well-acquainted with PV, I know how far $20 will get you through the Valley's sprawl, I know how meaningless corporate (and fraternity/sorority) public relations stunts like that are, and the power (minimal) of "responsible" advertising that represents a spit in the bucket compared to the rest of the advertising that beer companies put out.

So yes, that's exactly what I mean by "encouraging" drunk driving.

Thanks for the personal attack, though.

And your affiliation with Hensley/McCain?

People, people...let's keep the discussion civil. Let's leave the mudslinging for the campaign teams :D

Heh heh, all this passion just from pictures of house facades? How can anyone say that architecture and design is not a timely and expressive method of communication.

Sparing the AT readers a novel on my political ideals (It's time for Change! "Obama 08), I must comment on Alan's/ ekd's postings... my favorite part of Alan's comment was "I once heard that on a Saturday night in Phoenix, 1 out of 10 cars is driven by a DUI/DWI driver." Really? Because I once heard that Santa Claus gave presents to all good little girls and boys, but that doesn't make it true.
I am kind of tired of the onus being placed alcohol distributors/ brewers for DUI's-- to say that John McCain makes his money off of DUI's is just a ridiculous accusation, and something people bring up to try to take the focus off of real issues. I don't think advertisments showing horses playing football are forcing anyone to drive under the influence! Talking about Cindy Hensley-McCain's AB connection reminds me of all the hot air around John Kerry's ketchup connections-- let's try to analyze what is important here. Which, btw, on this blog, amounts to decor issues. :)

Whoops, I guess that was kind of a novel, sorry folks.

Alan, I would also be bitter if I lived in Tempe. And please, stop blaming your DUI on alcohol commercials. That was your fault.

Sweet crib, Obama. I knew i liked you...