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Not since the late, obstinate, Stephen Douglas in 1860 has a Democratic Presidential Nominee visited Harrisonburg, VA. For us non-re-enactors, this was the election that preceded the Civil War, resulting in a little known Legislator from Illinois becoming the most important President since Washington.
Although, that is probably not a fair comparison...
WaPo:
According to the local newspaper, the Daily News-Record, Lincoln was not even on the ballot in the slave-owning state [of Virginia]."It is a testimony to the path our country has traveled, that the last time a Democrat was here was Stephen Douglas and now the next presidential candidate is Barack Obama," Obama said. "That's a long distance to travel. That's a testimony to Virginia and a testimony to this country."
And, as a southerner with family that fought on the Union, can I just say Hell Yeah Lincoln?!
(Although history buffs will be among the first to remind you that Virginia's electoral votes went to Tennessee's John Bell in 1860 aka Nader/Gonzalez '08. So get to work!
Update: It wasn't all that long ago. PLEASE read " Her father was a slave. She voted for Obama."
