The 79-year-old man sitting alongside me on Tuesday night at our election gathering leaned over at one point as the returns for New Hampshire were coming in and said, “This is the way it used to be.” Knowing what he meant I grinned, and told him I much agreed.
There was a time before precision polling told us how we would vote before we ever cast a ballot, or exit polling had broken down the winners and losers along with the reasons why within minutes of a state closing their polls, that watching election returns after a hotly contested political battle was loads of fun. People would speculate and wonder all through election day, but if was not until the balloting ended, and the slow counting process started, that any true sign of the end result would be known. There was an air of mystery and tension that was great fun for the political junkie and average voter alike.
So it was remarkable political theater on Tuesday night when every poll prior to the New Hampshire primary, along with every exit poll conducted, and every campaign’s internal calculations were all turned upside down. Every assumption of the brightest and most capable political reporter and pundit was wrong. Every brave person who penned a prediction about the outcome, felt as inconsequential to the process as the top campaign manager for any top-tier candidate. No one knew what would ultimately happen in the Democratic primary for several tense hours.
It was as if we all stepped back in time for a bit. I wonder how many thought about a time not so long ago when all elections were so marvelous to watch unfold?
Even with the computer models of the areas in New Hampshire where votes had not yet been counted, there were still unknown possibilities that made the evening longer. Even the political anchors of the all news channels were having nostalgic feelings of the energy and real excitement of how elections once were covered. They were as anxious to know the outcome as the audience that was watching. And no one knew anymore than the other for much of the evening.
After the winner was eventually announced, and the final speech was made, the pundits and reporters started a process that will take days to conclude. Exactly what happened to the voters in the final 36 hours of the campaign, and what did the candidates do or say that produced such a stunning end to a hard fought primary? I am as eager as any to better understand the answers.
But I will be among the first to say I am glad that whatever took place in the minds of the voters did happen. And not for any political reason either. I am glad that we all had a chance to sit and watch an election play out for a few hours with nothing to guide us but the actions of those who took the time to care enough to cast a ballot. For a while every American was connected to the same incredible drama unfolding in the nation. We do not have enough of those shared moments as a people.
It might seem corny and old-fashioned, but is also felt good. And it was fun!
Technorati Tags: Election08, NewHampshirePrimary, Pundits, Media,
CAFFEINATED POLITICS 
Nice.
I’ll admit, my eyes were glued to MSNBC all night. I think the reason the polls were so off was because there were so many undecided voters, and so many independents that had to pick between Obama and McCain. It was fun!