Your first Presidential election

[feinstein9]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:23pm

I thought it'd be interesting to hear when everyone's first Presidential election was, who you voted for and why. Did you vote the first time you had the legal opportunity to? Did you get involved in campaigning?

Mine was 2004 (I was 19), for John Kerry. I think the reasoning is pretty obvious. I didn't volunteer that year, but this election I've canvassed for Barack. I regret I didn't do more to help Kerry, but then again I was in Texas and there's only so much you can do there.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:25pm

Mine was Clinton in '96. I had just turned 18 the August before. I didn't really do much in terms of volunteering, but I did go to one of his rallies in Houston. The fact that he was having a rally in Texas tells you how little work really needed to be done to ensure his re-election.

[Craww]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 1:26pm

Kerry. I was 20. To be honest, I didn't care overly much for him. Even though I didn't vote for Barack Obama in the primary, I'm still happier with my candidate this time around.

[bschneid76]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:03pm

Mine was Gore vs. Bush. It was the dreadful year of "RECOUNT RECOUNT!" I had been so excited about my first time voting, but it was ruined by all the fiasco!

[Jon]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:09pm

1980 - I woted to re-elect Carter. Reagan beat him. It sucked.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:21pm

Mine was 2000. I have "lost" in both presidential elections...and frankly, when Hillary lost, I "lost" this election too.

[supportivemom]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:26pm

Mine was 1980 as well- for Carter! I had just turned 18 and was a freshman at Jacksonville University, Florida. I registered Independent because I wasn't sure. I enrolled in a politcal science class (the only freshman) that was taught by an incredible teacher- Dr. Joan Carter. The class was really hard but I learned a lot.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:31pm

I was 18 in 2004 and I am ashamed to say that I did not vote. I was young and nothing mattered to me then, plus I was far away from home. This is my first Presidential election.

[madbrian]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:36pm

In 1980 I voted for John Anderson.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:38pm

This is the first Presidential election in which I can vote, but I spent a lot of time volunteering in 2004 for Kerry/Edwards.

I am proud to have my first Presidential ballot be marked for Obama.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:50pm

Clinton/Gore, '92 -- and I was thrilled!

[DAME]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:51pm

Dukaka

[justagirl2]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 2:59pm

This is it! I just missed being old enough for 2004, so I'm excited.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:01pm

The Dinosaur Report:

1972; McGovern versus Nixon; I was on tour so I voted absentee but at the county court house.

There I am filling out my (paper) ballot, and I asked the other person who was there doing the same, "Say, who's this Nixon guy?" She replied, "Beats me."

I figured that was two votes for McGovern in this overwhelmingly Republican county of Pennsylvania.

This was a really odd election because Nixon won in a landslide (49 states; 60+% popular vote), but the ticket had no coattails. Both houses of congress remained firmly in Democratic hands and so did a majority of the Governor's houses. Within two years Watergate had torn the administration and the nation to tatters.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:07pm

1988 Bush I over Dukakis. Look at the electoral map of that year if you want to see a landslide!

[Jon]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:11pm

Bush (the first one) got by on Reagan's coattails, and the fact that Dukakis was a terrible nominee for the Democrats. Four years later, Bill Clinton was the anti-Dukakis.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:11pm

Not as bad as my first landslide, brd...Mondale/Ferraro did worse than Dukakis

[javero]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:13pm

84 when Reagan destroyed Fritz Mondale. I was still a Democrat back then so my first outing was not the most pleasant. And you think that John Kerry needs a personality transplant you gotta get a load of Mondale.

[wonkit]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:15pm

Thomas Jefferson and John Adams

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:16pm

doodle, without googling, I am pretty sure that Mondale carried Minn only!

[wexy]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:20pm

76 for Jimmy Carter, I saw him give a speech at Hofstra two days before the election. The opening speaker was Margaret Mead which is pretty cool in retrospect.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:48pm

1980. I voted John Anderson. My first class Wednesday AM was a lit glass taught by Dr. Glass, a smug Georgian. He started the class by saying "I have had the honor of voting against Jimmy Carter many times in my life, but yesterday was the most satisfying!" He then dismissed anyone who voted against Carter and when I got up he challenged me and I said "Well I really voted FOR John Anderson." He snorted and waved me away with "That shouldn't surprise me!"

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:50pm

We held a mock election in my HS and we elected John Anderson in a landslide.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 3:52pm

Mine was Clinton/Gore in '92. Why? I've never voted for a Bush.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 10/30/08 at 4:40pm

This is my first election that I will vote in and I am very excited.