Making a Difference

North Carolina is the 10th most populated state in the country and will provide 134 delegates to the Democratic convention. Yet in my voting lifetime (I've been at it since McGovern '72) I can't remember the last time the North Carolina primary actually made a difference in selecting, or even cementing, the party's nominee. This time might be different. (Yeah, some people will argue that Obama already has the nomination sewn up, that North Carolina is just icing, but imagine what would happen if Clinton accidently pulled out a slim victory here. On the other hand, what if Obama pulls a surprise victory in PA and Clinton steps aside? Then the NC primary will again be another rubber stamp.)

I've grown up hearing that "every vote counts" and being urged to faithfully exercise my rights and/or privileges as a citizen by voting—even in the primaries. But for far too many elections now it's felt like an exercise in futility. Usually by this time the decision had already been made and I was simply going through the motions. (Yeah, I voted anyway, because I've always believed that if you don't vote you have no right to bitch and moan.) This feels different. It feels like I/we might actually matter for a change.

So here's my question: When was the last time the voters of this state actually had a decisive impact in a presidential primary and/or election? Any state historians out there?