Well, here we are, ladies and gentlemen; one more day until the most important election of this young century. It certainly seems like it’s been the longest campaign ever. After some 21 months of criss-crossing the country, over two dozen primary and presidential debates, 57 primaries and approximately 1 million broadcasting hours worth of campaign ads, it all comes down to us. You and me. Our friends, family and neighbors. Joe the Plumber. Jeremiah Wright. All of us get to cast our vote and shape America’s path for the next four to eight years.

With that in mind, I thought I’d throw some factoids everyone’s direction, so you’d have something to talk about as you wait in line at the polls, or even if you’ve already voted and are Biden your time until your McCainical difficulties are solved. This column may Palin comparison to others you may see regularly in this spot, but all I have to say to that is: Gobama!


The Clintster pre-election primer:
• If Barack Obama is elected, he will be the first President born off of the North American continent. John McCain would be the first President born in a U.S. territory that no longer exists (the Panama Canal Zone).
• Barack Obama would be the first Democrat from a Northern state to be elected since 1960.
• Barack could be the first Democrat elected with a majority in both the popular vote and the Electoral College since 1976.
• If Barack scores a landslide victory, it would be the first for a Democrat since 1964.
• If Barack takes Virginia and/or Indiana, he will be the first Democrat to do so since Lyndon Johnson
• Regardless of who wins, come January 20th, there will be no one named Bush or Clinton in the White House or Number One Observatory Circle. That hasn’t happened since Jimmy Carter left office.
• Oh, and there’s one more little factoid: Barack Obama would be the first person of African Heritage to be come President of the United States.

Before I end this, I just want to share this little story with you. When I first met the future Mrs. C, she and I talked about a number of subjects, as two people will when they are interested in one another and want to get to know one another a bit better. Inevitably the subject of politics came up. We talked about the 2000 election, and she made a startling confession to me.

“I didn’t vote”, she confessed.

I looked at her in shock and surprise. “What happened?” I asked, sure that the answer would have something to do with being kidnapped by ruthless pirates, shanghaied to… well, Shanghai, and forced to work in a sweatshop turning out counterfeit Bush-Cheney bumper stickers. If only it were that simple.

“I didn’t think it was that important”, she protested, “and I was trying to get my Master’s degree.”

I teased her for weeks afterwards for being responsible for Bush-Cheney, even though North Carolina was not in play that year. However we should all take note that NC and many other states are in play, and regardless of how crucial your state is to the national election, you should take the time and vote for the local candidates you see as fitting to your interests. A good house is only as solid as its foundation. Vote early, vote well, and enjoy the thrill of tomorrow.

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