Hey all. I’m going to try to give you a sense of things from my corner of the world today. I’m not even sure how I’ll do this…just a lot of editors’ updates, I suppose, or just adding notes in the comments section. I’ll do my best to give you a flavor as often as possible.
After trekking to South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania (twice) and our own Potomac Primary, I am here with Mr. AP in our hometown in the swing state known as the Commonwealth of Virginia. There’s something unique about this experience. My Dad described this as feeling like it’s Christmas Eve. He and my Mom have been up since 5 am.
The anticipation. The bundled nerves. The excitement.
The possibility!
I’ve mentioned before my parents growing up in the hell that was the segregated South, so this is exciting–earth shattering, really–in a way that I cannot express. Not since Doug Wilder have I seen this type of excitement, and it almost pales in comparison. I wasn’t old enough to vote in that race, but I was old enough to assist, and that’s what I did.
Again, I am not voting in the Commonwealth (c’mon now: you know damned well that I voted absentee almost a month ago) but I am here to help. It is amazing, it really is. Of course, I know well the “old hands” but I’ve seen lots of new faces. They are young and old and of all shades. There is a white Obama supporter living in a town where African Americans were unwelcome by custom to live even 20 years ago who opened her home to an African American couple from Maryland who were running one of the smaller offices in the area. We’ve got people from the DC area, from NY and NH.
And they were all here to help for this moment. It is raining this morning, but it is neither dampening the spirit nor stopping the lines. People reportedly lined up as early as 3 and 4 am to get in line to cast their votes. Governor Kaine voted shortly after seven AM. People had been parking in the street–on main thoroughfares, even–and DID NOT MOVE. Lines wrapped around buildings. Reports of some machines not working: touchscreens in Henrico and Powhatan counties were malfunctioning (according to the local news–Henrico is surprising because it is a wealthy county). We’re about to get out and see for ourselves.
Also, Sen. Biden is headed to Richmond. We’re not far, but I don’t think we’ll have time to see him. I hope he makes a surprise visit further south. That would be fantastic.
I’ll check back in when I can! Tell people to go vote–call, text, e-mail, carrier pigeon–whatever you gotta do. And if you have a phone, you can still make calls.