When the McHenry County Fair opens today, the Democratic Party booth will feature a penny poll.

Boy, does that bring back memories.

In 1968, when I was president of the McHenry County Young Republicans, we had a presidential penny poll.

There were supporters for Nelson Rockefeller, Gene McCarthy, Bobby Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, George McGovern, Ronald Reagan, George Wallace, Richard Nixon, you name it.

I still remember one itinerant booth operator who kept sticking $5 bills in the Wallace jar.

We tallied and posted the votes every hour.

It was nip and tuck between Wallace and Nixon.

Anytime Wallace was not on top, another $5 bill showed up.

Naturally, the Republicans were not going to let Wallace come out on top.

Some time Saturday, a Democrat asked where the money was going. After he was told that it went to the Young Republicans, he didn’t cast any more votes.

“With two candidates with Illinois connections and other strong contenders, interest has never been higher in the race for the Democratic nomination,” McHenry County Chair Thomas Cynor said. “The public will get a chance to make their choice count next winter when the Illinois Primary will be held earlier than ever.”

The Democrats’ press release says that they will only tally the results at the end of the fair.

They won’t get as much money that way as the YR’s did in 1968.

The Democratic booth located in Building C. For more information call the Party at 815 788-9540, e-mail infor@mchenrydems.com or visit www.mchenrydems.com