In 1958, speaking at a Gridiron Dinner in Washington, then-Senator John F. Kennedy made the following quip:

“I have just received the following wire from my generous daddy: ‘Dear Jack-Don’t buy a single vote more than is necessary- I’ll be damned if I’m going to pay for a landslide.’”

The election he was talking about – the election of 1960 that made him president – was one of the closest in history, with Kennedy winning the presidency by just one vote per precinct.

But we don’t have to look to 1960, or even Florida in 2000, to know just how imporant every vote is.

On Tuesday, in Ingham County, Michigan, Kevin Green won the Republican primary for the 23rd State Senate special election by just one vote over challenger John Findlay, and now goes on to face Democrat Gretchen Whitmer next month. In this safe Democratic seat, Whitmer should prevail easily, but for those who don’t believe one vote can make a difference, try telling that to John Findlay.