Indiana Voters Excited To Vote In Primary
source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080501/ts_nm/usa_politics_indiana_dc
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"I'm old enough to know we've never made a difference before -- well, not in a long time," said McCullar as she fielded telephone calls and took orders at her flower shop on the main street of this southeast Indiana town.
This year, Indiana's primary on Tuesday looms as the possibly decisive battle between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama over who will represent the Democrats in the November presidential election.
While the conservative Midwestern state is solidly Republican and unlikely to be heavily contested in November, polls show the Democratic primary race between Clinton and Obama is tight. With Obama ahead in the polls in the North Carolina contest, also held on Tuesday, the major focus has turned to Indiana, where Clinton needs a victory to continue her fight.
The former first lady trails Obama in both the popular vote and number of delegates who select the party's nominee at its August convention.
McCullar said she's pulling for Clinton, but her college-aged daughter is an Obama supporter -- and the two joke about hoping the other is too busy to vote on Tuesday.
Voters are excited, said Russell L. Hanson, a political science professor at Indiana University Bloomington.
"There's been a dramatic increase in voter registration," said Hanson. "People are gratified by it, interested in the race and paying attention, and they rather like the idea that they might determine the outcome -- or at least influence it in some important way."
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JanforGore
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Above all the acid and rancor there is one good thing that has come out of this: voter registration has increased tremendously because Americans feel part of this process again due to this primary season. While people who simply want Clinton out because they hate her continue to grumble about how this is "hurting the party", it is actually strengthening Democracy.
For far too long Americans have felt disaffected by a voting process that has left them apathetic. I know from having my state forgotten for years as well because my primary was scheduled in June months after it was over, that it is actually unfair to end the contest when all Americans haven't been heard. So beyond my own criticisms of Obama, Clinton, and this political process as a whole, I can state that I am actually pleased to see Americans engaged and excited about voting again, which is really the higher ideal behind all of this.
- 3 years ago
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JanforGore
