Potomac Fever Feels Great

I have lived in the metropolitan DC area for exactly 25 years—six years on Capitol Hill in the District, two years in Arlington, VA, and 17 years in Chevy Chase, MD. In all those years, no one living outside of the tri-state area ever knew we were voting or cared how we voted in presidential primaries. Either we were too small to matter or the nominees were already decided by the time our primaries came around. To say “but things are so different this year” is sounding like a cliché but it’s true—things are so different! The District is abuzz with Obama and Hillary signs, and every rush hour brings groups of mostly middle-aged women to the street corners doing visibility for one of the two Democratic candidates. Horns are blaring and lights are flashing in support of favorites. White-haired women with Obama signs spent all weekend jumping up and down in Chevy Chase Circle, while teenaged boys and girls filled the streets of downtown Bethesda with Hillary signs. Michelle Obama used our local high school for an event last night. Trust me, this is not normal. But it’s wonderful. What happens here finally matters.