The Republican candidate for president of the United States, John McCain, recently responded to the Democratic challenger Barak Obama’s comment that he was running for George Bush’s third term by stating that Obama was running for Jimmy Carter’s second term.

I actually thought that was a pretty clever comeback though it was clearly well-scripted.

Who knows, a campaign aid may have given it to McCain to use. In any event, i thought it was clever. Based on the chuckle from McCain while saying it I gather he thought it was pretty clever too.

It was only later when a political commentator on MSNBC mentioned that many younger voters probably don’t recall Jimmy Carter as a presidential candidate that I had to think about the actual impact of McCain’s comeback. It was pointed out that younger voters most likely associate Carter with his post presidential duties with “Habit For Humanity” than for his two presidential campaigns.

The commentator said that they probably picture Jimmy Carter with a hammer in his hand rather than out on the campaign trail.

That observation clearly put things into context for me.

The first presidential election I voted in was Jimmy Carter vs. Gerald Ford in 1976. It was my first year of college. I believe I used an absentee ballot since I was away at an out of state school at the time.

Talk about “That 70’s Show” - I lived it!

I’ve voted in every presidential election since. Eight in total and I remember the 3 prior to 1976. Nothing like presidential campaign cycles to put your age into proper historical context! Kind of like growth rings in the trunk of a tree. An indelible mark to indicate how long you’ve been on this earth.

A lot seems to have been made about John McCain’s age, but I don’t think it will come of much since he appears to be in relatively good health. He even went so far as to bring his mother out for interviews to display the terrific longevity genes that run in his family tree.

Presidential elections often mark turning points in American society where we sometimes move beyond long held prejudices or introduce new technologies into the election process.

The 2008 election cycle will best be known as the first one where both a woman and an African American ran campaigns. Hopefully, this will become more common place in future election campaigns. Though it may take a bit longer where candidates beyond retirement age aren’t given a second thought.