politics

A Mandate from The People

June 10, 2004

While the national media’s attention has focused on the race for the White House, other political stories are breaking out there, and some of them are doozies.

Consider Tuesday’s Republican primary contest for the First Congressional District of New Jersey. As The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Troy Graham reported today (registration required), unofficial results show that candidate John Cusack defeated his opponent Daniel Hutchison by one vote, 4,170 to 4,169.

Graham quoted the elated Cusack: “I’m taking that as a mandate from the people.”

Hey, why not? Vote for vote, presidents have been elected by smaller margins.

–Susan Q. Stranahan

Susan Q. Stranahan wrote for CJR.