Your first presidential election

[Taverner]

Me? I turned 18 in 1988. So I cast my ballot for Dukakis. Personally, I didn't care that he rode in a tank with an ill-fitting cap. His service in Korea trumped any questions about toughness. He did weasel the DP question, but I wish he would have won.

[Delphinus]

1. 1976.

Jimmy Carter versus Gerald Ford.

[SammyWinstonJack]

5. That was mine too.

[lutefisk]

19. Me, too. The last completely honorable President.

Maybe we'll get another one today.

:patriot:

[Crunchy Frog]

2. Mondale in '84.

:(

[dhill926]

3. the great George McGovern....

against what's his name....

[Taverner]

7. McGovern, a war hero, would have been an excellent president

So would have Henry Agard Wallace, John Kerry, Walter Mondale and Mike Dukakis for that matter

[recoveringdittohed]

10. In 1972 for "whats his name (Nixon)

I should have heeded Mad Magazine's warning. As I recall they had a political parody ad to the effect that in 1968 Nixon's The One! In 1972, he'll be a even bigger one!

[Poll_Blind]

4. Mine was Clinton in '92. And of course I got spoiled by his second win.

  Bush's appointment over 537 votes against Gore in the 2000 presidential election shocked and dismayed me to the core. Then 9/11. Then Bush, again, against Kerry. I feel anyone in my position, coming of voting age for the '92 election and then going through this shitty mess has a lot of scar tissue built up.

  I am ready for Obama. If McCain "wins" I won't be surprised but I'd go about making some changes in my life because of it.

  If Obama does not win, this country is completely out of hope, out of rope, out of time.

PB

[Qanisqineq]

20. That was my first, too

I voted for Clinton (and I kind of had a crush on him, too) on my 19th birthday. I was so nervous that I wouldn't do it right. Vote, that is. :P

[6000eliot]

6. Carter in '80.

The era that his loss ushered in is about to come to an end!

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

8. Gore in 2000

[dkofos]

9. Nixon Mcgovern 1972

[Just-plain-Kathy]

11. I didn't get involved in politics until I became a mother.

...The first time I ever voted was for Bill Clinton. I can't believe I voted for him because I thought he was cool for playing the sax on Arsino Hall.

Times have really changed. Now I'm obsessed with politics.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. My first one was 1972, George McGovern.

I was eligible to vote in 1968, but I was so turned off by the whole Chicago mess that I abstained. Probably a mistake, but I was young and full of fire.

[rug]

13. McCovern/Nixon. Then I became a communist.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

14. 1972

George McGovern.

[bobd0]

15. I was 21 in 1972 when I voted for McGovern even though the voting age became 18 that year. n/t

[gollygee]

16. That was my first election too

I campaigned on my college campus.

[Blue1963]

17. This is my 7th time around.

But my wife who is 12 years younger never was involved in the political process and never voted. As he did for so many others Obama engaged her and she started to read up on the issues and double check to make sure I was not just a raving lunatic the last 4 years.

On daily basis she would come up to me appalled at what she discovered about what has been going on in this country the last 8 years. My response was always the same, I told you I was not nuts!!

She was actually afraid to vote, worried she would be challenged or her name would not be on the registration list. She called me up as soon as she was done exclaiming "I voted! I voted". When she came home tonight she was still wearing her I voted sticker more proudly then anyone I have ever seen.

I fancy myself a cynical guy but I think I caught a tear looking at someone glowing at being a part of this historical moment. I look forward to celebrating our 5th anniversary with Obama as president.

[steveironcity]

18. 2000

Mine was 2000, I was 2 weeks shy of my 20th b-day

[Taverner]

21. I am cynical as well

But today is starting to erode at said cynicism

[norepubsin08]

22. Carter 1976

I was on a national singing tour and mailed my ballot from Des Plaines Illinois to Tacoma, Washington and watched the returns in South Bend, Indiana.