Eli -

Just thought I’d add a report from a red state. I arrived at my tiny polling place at 5:45 this morning, and there were already about 30 people in line. Everyone was giddy and happy and hopeful, and the air was overwhelmingly pro-Obama. (Granted, I live in one of the only counties to vote Kerry in 2004, and one of only 2 that voted Obama over Hillary in the primary, but still…)

People were excitedly looking down the street as the line grew and grew. The older lady in front of me even turned around and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if Kentucky went in another direction?” I told her I would weep with joy if that happened. Another gentleman said that he hadn’t seen anything like that kind of turnout since the election in 1960 when everyone was excited about JFK.

As I was driving away about 45 minutes after my arrival, I felt a rush of pride in my cynical heart: pride at what our country once was, and what we hopefully will be again. I know my state will probably stick with the status quo, but I’m desperately hopeful that the country as a whole will prove to the rest of the world that, despite the last 8 years, we don’t WANT to be the bad guys.

I know this isn’t a very interesting story compared to the throngs of reports you are no doubt receiving, but I thought I’d take a chance to let you and your readers know that even in the Red States there are people with hope. A lot of it.

Heather

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