There was no better example of that than Tuesday night, as I was planted on my sofa watching network coverage of the Super (Duper) Tuesday returns. My dedication to all things political stretches back many years -- to memories of being a little girl and walking into the voting booth with my Mom in our hometown and watching as she cast her ballot. It stretched from that defining moment into a career as a campus politician that spanned Middle School, High School and even a term in the Associated Students Senate at Cal State Long Beach.

Watching returns Tuesday night, in the closest thing the United States has ever had to a national primary...I was giddy. It's an exciting time to be an American. Growing up in California, during Presidential Primary season - the decisions made by our state never mattered -- the candidates on both sides of the aisle had already been chosen by the time our ballots had been cast. This year, by joining the ranks of Super Tuesday states, California counted.

And this year, despite the addition of so many states to the Super Tuesday party, what Virginians have to say about the candidates will make a difference.

It's being called the Potomac Primary -- with Virginia, Maryland, and D.C. residents all filling out our ballots together.

I'll be at the polls on Tuesday (with a big smile on my face) and hope to see you there.