As many of you know, Kim and I have been loyal Edwards supporters, traveling to New Hampshire, coordinating activities here in Connecticut. When Sen. Edwards suspended his campaign, we were contacted by just about everyone. Obama supporters across the county sent us emails about why we should switch to Obama. Political dignitaries in Connecticut called us up asking us to support Clinton. We even got an email a Gravel supporter.

Many of our friends said they were going to vote for Sen. Edwards anyway, simply to make a statement, or in hopes of getting him more delegates so that he can have a greater say in the discussion about the issues that matter. I’ve voted that way before. I was glad to vote for Gov. Dean in 2004, even though he had ended his campaign and my symbolic vote was unlikely to get much attention, let alone a delegate. I voted for Tsongas back in 1992, even though he was, for all practical purposes out of the race by then.

Yet every election is different. I have mixed feelings about Sen. Obama, just as I do about Sen. Clinton. So, today, I walked into the voting booth with Fiona, still struggling how I should vote. I turned to her and asked if she thought we could still make a difference in our country without voting for Sen. Edwards.

She turned to me and said, “Yes, We Can.” I smiled. Four years ago, Gov. Dean delivered a message of hope and he is still making an important difference in our country. Deval Patrick took up the message of hope with a campaign slogan, “Together, we can”, and he is making a difference.

While I believe that Sen. Edwards message of hope was more substantive than that of Sen. Obama, in the end, I voted for the future and not for the past. I hope Fiona was right, because it is her future that I voted for.
(Cross posted at MyLeftNutmeg)