The Political Cartoon: Vote for YOUR Favorite Obama...

Many of the world's political cartoonists literally drew inspiration this week from Obama's presidential ascension. Thankfully, many illustrators rose to the historic challenge.

Comic Riffs noted earlier this morning that Tom Toles's day-after cartoon was superbly poignant -- and particularly original. By contrast, having read hundreds of other Obamatoons this week, 'Riffs was struck by just how many scores of cartoonists relied on the built-in metaphorical power of the same certain images. To wit:

1. The Lincoln Memorial signaling its approval by either (a) giving a thumbs-up; (b) smiling behind Obama; or (c) giving Obama a high-five.
2. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. signaling his approval by (a) shaking Obama's hand; or (b) smiling beatifically from above.
3. Obama's circular campaign-symbol drawn as the "O" in "History."
4. Some variation on "Yes, we can" (most commonly: "Yes, we did").

Those are all well and good, but among the huddled mass of cartoons, we unearthed a handful that we especially liked for their execution and creativity.

By Joe Heller (Green Bay Press-Gazette) Enlarge Comic

By Mike Luckovich (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Enlarge Comic

By John Sherffius (Colorado, Boulder Daily Camera) Enlarge Comic

By Steve Greenberg (Ventura [Calif.] County Star) Enlarge Comic

By Nick Anderson (Houston Chronicle) Enlarge Comic

Now it's your turn to vote on a presidential balloting for the second time this week. Here are the finalists (in order of appearance above). Of the five, which is your fave?