I noticed that quite a bit of yesterday’s traffic was related to a year-old post about brackets. In fact that post is near the top of a Google search for best bracket. The idea behind the post was the different methods some political figures used to fill out their brackets. I added the Jack Bauer method then, but this year it’s time for some insight into how the presidential candidates are going to win the pool.

Barack Obama method:
The beauty of the Barry system is that you never have to really fill out a bracket. Announce repeatedly that your bracket has the best hope for winning and that you are going to change the from old, outdated methods of bracket picking. If someone does manage to pin you down on a pick don’t worry, you can change it later as the situation requires. One key to this method is your plan to take the winnings from each round and distribute them to those who didn’t do as well, keeping a rather large cut for “overhead”.

Hillary Clinton method:
Winning is your destiny. Sure, some may come along and say that your only qualification is your name, but that won’t stop you. Any roadblocks can be explained by claiming that a “Vast Bracket Conspiracy” is at work. If at some point you find yourself trailing just offer the leader the opportunity of a lifetime to take second place behind your inevitableness. Dirty tricks are not a part of your method, they are your method.

John McCain method:
You will have to spend a good part of your time defending your more questionable picks. The good news is, your very worst picks will still be head and shoulders above those picked by either of the other two methods. While some people will say they want to “change” their picking style, or that they have the best (unproven) picking resume, most will realize that when it’s 3am and that late night game on the west coast is on the line you are the one they want to apply pen to bracket.

Anything I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments.