Now that Briana Studymine and Ryan Bassford are old enough to vote, this was a chance they didn't want to miss. "Since I've been in the sixth grade I've been following politics, so it's something that I really wanted to do,” Studymine said. The chance they're seizing is the chance to vote in New York's most important primary since: "That's a good question. Hang on just a second so I can give you an intelligent answer.” Political analyst Curt Smith couldn't think of one more important for both parties since at least the 1940s. This time, it's in the timing. By the time New Yorkers voted in March of 04, Kerry was already a lock for the nomination. This time, we're voting in February, and the races are too close to call for both the Dems and the Republicans. Add in the fact that New York's huge bunch of delegates will be awarded the same night as 23 other states, and New York becomes a player. "If a candidate in either party should sweep or win a predominance of those primaries, we're probably going to know by the middle of February who heads the democrat and republican ticket." Giving all the motivation Briana and Ryan needed to register on the last day. "I've been doing a lot of research for school on the different presidents, so I've been getting interested." Smith says that Rudy Giulian's poll numbers are so poor following his dismal showing in New Hampshire, that he may not even be a factor by the time the primary rolls around.
