More to choose: Presidential battle not only important vote on Tuesday

After months of listening to the banter back and forth, the day is finally here for North Carolinians to have their say in who will be the next president of the United States.

Whether this state chooses Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, the race is still likely not over. There will be other primaries for a few more weeks before someone, somewhere has to make a decision on what’s next and who will be the Democratic nominee.

In the meantime, the excitement over the Democratic race has brought out lots of new registrations and, hopefully, lots of new voters.

Let’s hope they will be motivated not just by the hype and the battle between these two candidates, but because they have a genuine interest in the future of this nation.

And that brings us to a point that should be made as North Carolina waits for the official opening of the polls Tuesday.

There is more at stake on Tuesday than simply the presidential nominations.

There are a myriad of races that will set up some key battles in the fall that will impact both local and state politics and the future of North Carolina.

As voters head to the polls, they need to remember to put thought into those votes, too, and to weigh carefully to whom they will give the honor of representing them this fall.

It is easy to get caught up in the hoopla that is a presidential race. But it is just as much of a responsibility to make sure local and state votes count, too.

Published in Editorials on May 5, 2008 10:25 AM