Obama creates history, first US president to vote early
27 Oct 2012 5:57 AM IST
US President Barack Obama scripted history when he cast his ballot 12 days ahead of the 6 November polls, becoming the first sitting US President to vote early in the election described by him as an ‘extremely tight’ race between him and his Republican rival Mitt Romney.
Amidst his hectic electioneering schedule, 51-year-old Obama flew in from Richmond in Virginia to cast his vote at the Martin Luther King Community Center in his home town of Chicago on Thursday.
As Obama entered the polling booth, he greeted everybody and said it is exciting to get to vote early.
‘This is the first time a President’s ever going to be early voting,’ he said. ‘That’s pretty exciting.’
Obama gave his testimonial to early voting, then asked if it was okay to take a picture with all the poll workers. ‘I don’t want to break any laws in front of this many cameramen,’ he said. The local election official said it was okay and pictures were taken.
Earlier in the day, Obama in an email to his supporters said that he is going to vote early. ‘This afternoon, I’m casting my ballot in my hometown of Chicago. I’m told I’ll be the first sitting president to take advantage of early voting,’ he said.
‘Look, this race is extremely tight. It’s going to come down to which side can more effectively turn out the vote in these final days, and early vote is a huge part of that.
‘Whether people get out to vote this year, in this election, is even more critical than the last time around. So this is serious, and I’m going to need your help if we want to win,’ said Obama who, according to snap polls, won two of the three high-stake presidential debates against his Romney.
Amidst his hectic electioneering schedule, 51-year-old Obama flew in from Richmond in Virginia to cast his vote at the Martin Luther King Community Center in his home town of Chicago on Thursday.
As Obama entered the polling booth, he greeted everybody and said it is exciting to get to vote early.
‘This is the first time a President’s ever going to be early voting,’ he said. ‘That’s pretty exciting.’
Obama gave his testimonial to early voting, then asked if it was okay to take a picture with all the poll workers. ‘I don’t want to break any laws in front of this many cameramen,’ he said. The local election official said it was okay and pictures were taken.
Earlier in the day, Obama in an email to his supporters said that he is going to vote early. ‘This afternoon, I’m casting my ballot in my hometown of Chicago. I’m told I’ll be the first sitting president to take advantage of early voting,’ he said.
‘Look, this race is extremely tight. It’s going to come down to which side can more effectively turn out the vote in these final days, and early vote is a huge part of that.
‘Whether people get out to vote this year, in this election, is even more critical than the last time around. So this is serious, and I’m going to need your help if we want to win,’ said Obama who, according to snap polls, won two of the three high-stake presidential debates against his Romney.
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