On the Superest of Tuesdays, millions of voters across the U.S. trudged through inclement weather and dealt with logistical voting fiascoes in their states to support their candidate of choice in record-breaking numbers. Meanwhile, Mardi Gras goers in southern Louisianna gorged themselves on all things celebratory-- as the tradition goes, before the next forty days of Lenten abstinence.

Right.

Soon-to-be "repenters" rejoiced in the (mostly heathenous) fervor of Mardi Gras in a city renown for its rich multiethnic history and its vibrant cultural traditions. And the country at large was embroiled in the beginnings of an especially heated race for the historically male, Christian, very white White House-- a contest that has so far centered most significantly on religion, gender, and skin color.

Over the last week, nearly every demographic marker has been used to explain voting patterns in the primary elections and to predict the nominations as the results are even now still rolling in. No 2008 voter is simply an independent thinker choosing a candidate according to his or her personal views. We are all ciphers for phenomena that are thought to occur along clear lines of race, gender, class, education, etc.

HIllary has been deemed the candidate of older women, some white men, and the bluer hued collars. Obama commands the youth vote, the Black vote, the educated, but he apparently he does not have this elusive thing called the Latino vote.

As expected, the focus on ethnicity has been particularly pointed given the historic rise of Senator Obama and the centrailty of his racial identification in the race that has become so much about race. Senator Obama has demonstrated an impressive ability to mobilize voters who have felt marginalized or for whatever reason, have not previously engaged in the political process, which includes many Black voters.

But it seems not all Black voters feel resonance with him as a candidate, just as women don't necessarrily feel compelled to support Hillary. The Clintons, like many successful democratic Presidential hopefuls, have historically done very well among Black voters. The supposed incongruity of voting outside of your demographic box and other race and gender related ussues have been addressed by the media a great deal more than the candidates' departures on matters of policy.

This election has demonstrated just how prominently issues of gender and ethnicity and the resulting tensions figure in the American imagination, seemingly above all else when it comes to choosing a political leader.

Both HIllary Clinton and Barack Obama have the ability to transcend the social identity categories which may have once hindered a politician. They are both seen as strong candidates who happen to be female or Black, which says a lot about the progress we've made in this country for both women and people of color.

But judging from the commentary resulting from just the primary elections, these are still very prominent issues that are thought to heavily, if not solely influence the decisions we make in the privacy of the voting booth. In any case, the surrounding discourses are being significantly impacted by the course of this election, particularly by the unprecedented contest between HIllary Clinton and Barack Obama.

(Mardi Gras flame thrower- phonecam picture by Christopher Town)

Bourbon street will be decidedly calmer in the next forty days than in the last weeks. But the presidential races will be all the more succulent for political junkies and recreationsts alike. We seem to already have a formidable Republican nominee, who is sure to make the final election challenging for whomever will face the seasoned Senator McCain.

Extending the battle for the Democratic nominee until the Convention is a most unsavory option for the party given the history of losing the final race to Republicans under such circumstances. In the next forty days, we are likely to have a democratic nominee.

At least I hope so-- if not for the Democratic party and for the country, then for myself.

The telling signs of election year abuse are beginning to show. I know Brad is suspicious that I skipped the last gnovis meeting which coincided with Super Tuesday, due to my uhm, habit. But in reality I was sick. (I was!) Managing a demanding blog reading schedule while working full time, taking a full load of classes, and applying to law schools can be taxing to the immune system (and the pscyhe).

If I were still a practicing Catholic, I might have given up obsessing over this election for Lent. If the race for the Democratic nominee continues much longer, we might all suffer burn-out to the point of harm and for some, to the detriment of the Democratic party.

I personally cannot stop watching.

For all those who seem to believe Obama is the veritable second coming, his nomination would surely bring a resurrection of faith in politics, and in the ability of this country to move past the more negative aspects of our history.