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Find out more about Liza: From her teenage years working at a community newspaper in N.Y., to covering Congress, to working for a national news network in NYC, Liza is a journalist who has covered national and state politics for 10 years. |
In case you haven't heard, this year's presidential election is one of the most important in American history.
Millions of people who have never been involved in a political campaign, never tried to organize a grassroots effort for anything political - and even people who have never voted before - have taken to their neighborhoods and the Web, trying to get their candidate elected.
You can't escape it. I just walked around the World Trade Center site today (yes, it's still a giant hold in the ground - 7 years later), and even the guys hawking t-shirts, belts and anything else they can sell are offering hats, t-shirts and other items emblazened with the words "McCain for President," or "Obama for President."
I asked one street vendor which he has sold more of - the McCain or Obama hats.
"For sure, for sure Obama," he said, although "we sell some McCain too." $10 says those McCain supporters were the tourists...
In a building facing Gound Zero, someone spelled out "OBAMA" in poster-sized pieces of paper - one for each letter - and stuck them the windows.
A quick look on our city's CraigsList.org shows that supporters of both candidates are cheering them on up until the very end.
"Dear fellow McCain-Palin supporters," says one posting. "I know we are greatly outnumbered in this great big city by Obama fans. Nevertheless, let's show our support for the senator tomorrow morning!
If you plan to attend, please email mccainmanhattan@gmail.com
Morning in America Rally for John McCain and Sarah Palin
The set of Good Morning America: "Military Island," 44th St and Broadway, Times Square
6:30 am - 9:00 am November 4, 2008
New York and its 31 electoral votes is solidly in Obama's column, by the way.
If you're voting tomorrow, be sure to set aside more than few hours. In states across the country that have early voting, people have been waiting in line for hours on end, with lines wrapping around city blocks to get into polling places. New York City polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 9 p.m. And be sure you know how to work the voting machines.
This year, I will be camped out our friends' apartment until the bitter end.
I was invited to "celebrate or commiserate the 2008 Presidential election," according to the evite. "This will be a historical year for Alaska or Hawaii and what better way to witness it than with good friends and tissues. We will be serving hors d'oeuvres, dinner and drinks. We will also be playing election games, wagering on spreads and color of states. So please wear your favorite elephant or donkey t-shirt, red or blue or green dress and join us for an evening of fun."
But after you vote, what will you be doing? Where will you be? Where are the big parties at? Will you care enough to stay up until all the results are in and the winner is called?