We debate about a presidential candidate's faith, but what about his or her family life? Is it important to you that your next President has a solid marriage? Good relationships with his or her children? Is there a significant correlation between good parenting and strong leadership in the White House?

To engage teens in the '08 presidential campaign, Sameera Righton, a.k.a. Sparrow, the main character of my two forthcoming young adult novels, First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover (Dutton / June 2007) and First Daughter: White House Rules (Dutton / June 2008), is blogging (positively) about the real First Kid wannabes and their parents at www.sparrowblog.com. I'm hoping that young people will enjoy her take because like many of them, Sameera can't vote but still wants to make a difference.  I'm also quite curious about the candidates' track record in the home, as my instinct tells me that if you want the measure of a person, watch how he treats his mother, spouse, and kids.