MarkCurtisMedia Political Blog: "Polls Crowded in Pennsylvania"

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

"Polls Crowded in Pennsylvania"

(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

In a scene that has played out all across the nation, Pennsylvania had a record turnout for the presidential primary today.
All day voters streamed into the historic Reformed Church, at 4^th and Race Street, not far from the Liberty Bell.

Opinions were easy to come by. At "The Fork" restaurant, one of the city's most popular, Lura Reisman was holding forth at the bar, toasting with an optimistic glass of champagne. She had gotten up early and voted for Barack Obama.

Reisman is a lifelong Philadelphian and Democrat. She started college in 1944; but because of World War II she did not graduate until 1953. She's an admitted news and political junkie. She compares the excitement of this race to 1960, when Sen. John F. Kennedy narrowly beat Vice President Richard Nixon. The year 2008 has something in common with 1960, she says, "Because it has the young people interested. Finally the young people are getting off their butts."

She remembers the voting age dropping in the early 1970s, but youth voting waned after Vietnam as well. "They were more interested in lowering the drinking age," she said of college students back then.

Reisman says that she sees a lot of Kennedy in Obama. "I hope that he remains as he is now," Reisman said, "and doesn't get corrupted by politics." As for President Kennedy, Reisman said he had a similar trait to Obama when it came to public speaking. "Kennedy made you feel good. He was an optimist," Reisman added.

The great news for food junkies as well as political junkies is that "The Fork" restaurant is still here. I found it back in 2000 during the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia. Great food and great political chat. If you are ever in Philly, check it out at 306 Market Street w:st="on">306 Market Street.