Finally...Election Day!

Sports fans often love politics because to them it’s just another big game
and if that’s the case then today is like the Super Bowl. We elect a new President amid uncertainty about the future like some of us have never seen before. It’s probably unfair to expect either Barack Obama or John McCain to make a big difference because it’s quite possible that the task is too large for any individual but before you go to sleep tonight you’ll probably know which Senator is about to become the 44th President of the United States.

I have always felt it was quite pompous for anyone to think their endorsement makes all that much of a difference. Newspapers don’t make them but rather a small group that might make up their editorial board and in some cases it may simply be the publisher or wants to exert his will on the public. I have rather strong opinions and am actually more interested in some of the local elections then the “big one” because I think the outcome of that one is a foregone conclusion.

Ocean County of course has been dominated by Republicans forever and for two main reasons. One is that the county has been run very well and most people have not seen any great need for change. The other is the Democrats have usually been their own worst enemies, running questionable candidates and doing little to back them. For the first time in a long time there are many who think change is coming to county government and it could start today. Joe Vicari and Jeff Moran will very likely be re-elected to terms as Freeholder and Surrogate over Stacy Lubrecht and Lawrence Jones although not by the huge margins they are accustomed to. However many officials and observers are intrigued by the race for County Clerk where incumbent Carl Block is facing a strong challenge from Berkeley Township Mayor Jason Varano, who has run a very aggressive campaign. You may not think of the County Clerk as a high-profile position but clearly the Democrats have run their strongest candidate for this office as a way to break through the GOP domination. Will they be successful and could it mark changing times? Listen to WOBM News for complete election results tonight to find out and I’ll comment tomorrow on what could be a historic day at the polls.