Close Democratic Race Spurs Many To Vote in their First Primary
By Alexandra Beggs


Super Tuesday began early this morning in New York City as voters trickled into polling sites. Fueled with espresso, this reporter stood 100 feet away from the door of a New York University dorm polling site to capture the excitement of the voters, and to figure out if the 2008 primaries were more “super” than past ones.

Many voters certainly thought so.

Terri Dieli, 55, who has been voting in the general elections in New York for 30 years, strongly supports Clinton, but this morning was her first primary vote. Dieli said that she voted for Clinton “not just because of what’s happening with the war, but because I’ve been following her throughout her career.”

Aidan Byrne, 27, has been voting for eight years, but this was also his first primary. He chose the candidate he did because, he said, he wanted “to see a different family in the White House.”

The close race between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was cited as the reason many voters felt this primary was more important than in 2004 – and that many turned out.

Voters have until 9 p.m. in New York to cast their ballots, which will bring to a close what The New York Times considers “what could be the most significant night of the 2008 campaign to date.” Increased voter turnout in New York and in the 23 other participating states may change the way the public regards primary elections in the future.