Published: September 05, 2008 10:48 pm      

Historic election heats up

Citizens’ interest peaked for presidential race

BLUEFIELD — No matter which candidates rise to the top this November, it’s going to be a historic election. The United States of America will either have its first black president or its first female vice president, and for some voters that’s sparking even more interest in going to the polls.

The Democrats have nominated Barack Obama as their party’s pick for president while the Republicans have Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on their ticket for vice president. Local voters indicated Friday that they were ready to pick candidates who set new trends in presidential history.

“I’d vote for a female,” said Howard Perkins of Bluewell, adding the election was worth watching. “It’s going to be interesting; yes, it is.”

Palin’s entry into the race makes the election more interesting now since she is a newcomer, another person said.

“It’s also because I had never heard of her, and all of a sudden she’s here and she seems to have accomplished quite a lot a governor, and her family seems like every other typical family,” said Mollie Fuller of Princeton.

For other voters, race and gender are not issues when it comes to selecting a president.

“No, not really,” said Betty Stephens, who was visiting from North Carolina. “I’m going to vote for the person who most closely follows Biblical teachings. I don’t care if they’re green. I’m listening to all they say and reading about them, too.”

For others, the chance to elect either a black person or a woman to either of the nation’s top posts is chance to help make history.

“I just think that a woman being a vice president would be good, and it would be the first time,” said Rhonda Hurley of Princeton.

But there were voters who said the historic nature of the candidates in this presidential election was not an extra reason to get out and vote. Voters should get to the polls no matter who is running. For a Virginia man, the people on the November ballot did not generate extra interest.

“Not really,” said Mac Riggins of Rich Creek, Va. “I’m interested in every election. It’s just a great American privilege to vote; if it was all men and all white men, it would make no difference to me.”