This space often concerns itself with local politics – fitting, considering the breadth and scope of this paper’s readership. It’s rare that national politics interject themselves locally, since there’s often little relevance in the Hudson Valley for issues that become national talking points.
But 2008 is already proving to be an unusual year, and in what promises to be one of the most hotly debated presidential elections ever, some politically savvy New Yorkers are already salivating over the chance to play a part in the national race. In recent weeks, Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have opened offices in Poughkeepsie, trying to capitalize on a rush of grass-roots support in advance of the New York State primaries on Feb. 5, part of a national “Super Tuesday” on which 24 states will hold primaries or caucuses, with 52 percent of all pledged Democratic delegates and 41 percent of the total Republican delegates at stake. With both the Democratic and Republican races tightening, there is much speculation that this year’s party conventions – scheduled for Aug. 25-28 for the Democrats and Sept. 1-4 for the Republicans – may take on much more importance than in the recent past.
And people who have taken an interest in the political process are already involved, seeking out support for candidate delegates on Feb. 5, phone banking and scheduling rallies and forums for candidate issues. Although Sen. Clinton is the presumptive favorite in the New York, that’s not stopping a legion of dedicated Obama supporters from enthusiastically finding volunteers and keeping interest in the national race at a fever pitch. And the Republican side, though less fervent, is also gearing up.
Many local legislators and politicians have already endorsed the candidate of their choice as well, in part because of the Feb. 5 primary but also in recognition of the importance of this election cycle. In case you haven’t noticed, relationships between Republicans and Democrats aren’t improving – political discourse continues to get more vitriolic and often mean-spirited, and although some of the loftiest political dialogue encourages discussion about the issues rather than personal foibles, that’s sometimes hard to find when the debates start and the lights come up. It’s becoming more clear that choosing which candidate to back may become the most important decision you make in 2008, and to make informed and educated choices, people must have a base of knowledge about their candidates.
Ignore the mud-slinging and usual campaign trail talk, and work to get to the bottom of the candidates’ beliefs. In an election season that’s going to get more and more divisive, Hudson Valley residents – indeed, all American citizens – will have a chance to have their voices heard in the national debate. Be educated, be involved, and make a difference.