It's an Election year, and there will be plenty of analysis and media outlets in 2008 trying to speculate on who the next President of the United States will be.  But what about an average voter? What does she or he really think about what's happening? 

First, let me give a BIG THANKS to my friend, Karen, who responded to my concern in the last Just Two Votes blog about what exactly each candidate stood for by providing me with a link to On The Issues.  It provides information on how each candidate has voted in Congress on various issues, and what each seems to really stand for while in office.

But let's get to New Hampshire.  After seeing many feel-good stories all over the news regarding the fine dining throughout the Granite State, with each candidate trying to promote how "down to earth" they were trying out the greasy cuisine, results began filtering in.

The first primary of this election proved beneficial for John McCain, who spent most of his campaign time there, sacrificing numbers in the Iowa Caucus.  Mitt Romney came in 2nd, showing that the Republican nominee is far from clear at this point.

On the Democratic side, a close race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama that ended in a .  Seems those two will be battling it out into the Spring.

But I've got to say, I'm a little frustrated by the commentary on Hillary.  It's as if she's damned if she does, damned if she doesn't.  I'm talking about her "getting emotional" during a talk prior to the primary, which sparked the debate on whether it made her human or weak.

Is it becoming a pile-on for her? I'm trying to remember if I've seen as many stories that included so many questions about one candidate.  Are we ready for a female President? Is she too stiff? Is she too weak? And why isn't anyone more outraged by the sexist comments from hecklers than her tearing up with constituents?  What about pictures like these of her when she's reported on:

You don't see the other candidates get this treatment when they win a primary.  And this was from the AJC, a prominent national newspaper's online site.

I'm glad the underdogs won this one.

I got to see it.  I got to see a woman win the Presidential primary in America.  Regardless of what happens next, I and every other woman in America owe a debt of gratitude to Hillary Clinton.  We will benefit from tonight.

Whether you love her or hate her, if you are a woman in America, Hillary did you a favor.

The fact that she has accomplished this level of success in a country dominated by men is more than a miracle.  It is a gift to all women.

I believe that no matter what industry you work in, if you are a woman working in America, you are most likely paid less than your male counterpart.  If a man tells you the honest truth, most will say that they see and treat women as less capable than their male counterparts.  Hillary is working to change the minds of women and men.  And I appreciate what she is doing for all of us.

If Hillary's campaign does nothing else, it helps level the playing field that we all play on.

I believe Hillary needed this win to stay alive in this campaign.  But, quite honestly, I wanted to see whether women voters in New Hampshire had any devotion to her.  The women voters did show their devotion in some way, and someday each and every woman will profit from her achievement.