I stopped at the barbershop this morning before coming in to work, and one of the barbers there mentioned that he voted for Sen. Obama Tuesday - and that it was the first time he had ever voted.

He was well over 18.

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My Homewood Video

Volunteers talk about primary turnout

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As I was leaving home yesterday morning, there was a fellow coming down the street with a dolly. He told me that he needed three dollars for a gallon of gas, and offered to sell me the dolly - or,if I liked, a pack of AA batteries, time dated for March, 2014. Or a pack of AAA batteries, the time date of which I don't recall.

He didn't have beaten-down hopeless look that some guys have, and I know what it's like to need gas, so I bought some batteries, and gave him four dollars because three aren't enough for a gallon, and he said - and this is the point of the story - "I voted yesterday, if that's any consolation. I even took somebody with me to vote."

And we agreed that Obama had done well, given the point spread that Hillary had going into the Pa. primary. And I quietly marvelled at the fact that I was talking about election point spreads with a broke guy whom I had just met on the street.

Somebody sing with me, somebody dance: on Tuesday, HOMEWOOD VOTED.

The Obama campaign made a special effort in Homewood, setting up a staging site for volunteers to go out into the neighborhood and get the vote out. By the time I paid them a visit Tuesday evning, they were a tired, proud and happy group, and deservedly so.

In November's mayoral election, a total of 1,874 votes were cast in the 13th Ward. Tuesday, the total among Democrats was 3,701.

From the Inbox:

Robert, thanks for making the effort to speak peacefully. Here's hoping that Paul F. will respond in kind. But if not, we need to move on.