Chicago: “It's going to be a long one,” Mark Walkowitz said as the numbers ticked by on the large screen television dominated the results party near the House of Blues here. “Look – Obama's doing great in Florida. He tals that, he's back in.”
The admitted conservative Republican told Gulf News that the key to the election may have turned out to be Hurricane Sandy and the handling of it by President Obama. “He did really well but I think the killer was seeing Governor Chris Christie praising the president. That's two weird bed fellows.”
For Romney supporter John Deary, the early results were positive for the Republican. “I'm hopeful but I think it's going to be a very long night. With polling still going on in New Jersey until Friday, we may not know the results of this thing until then.”
“Woo hoo. Obama. Four more years” said Kathy Mellows, wearing a Democratic Rosette and spilling a drink over it. “O-bam-A woo hoo!” “Isn't democracy wonderful?” Walkowitz quips. “Everyone gets a say. Some time their say is too loud!”
“Look at the polling numbers,” offers Deary. “It seems to be a huge turnout. And the efforts in some states to curtail voters seems to have backfired.
The race is tight and is going to be a long night."
“The interesting thing is that both sides are still in this,” Deary says. “All of the races in the states that are too close to call seem to show that either candidate is still in this. The Hispanic vote is going to Obama. And the southern states haven't been called as early for Romney. Man this is exciting stuff.”
“Woo-hoo,” Mellows roars again as Pennsylvania results show Obama edging further ahead. “O-bam-a. Woo hoo.”
“Wow,” they just declared New Jersey for Obama,” Walkowitz notes, quickly sending a text to a buddy. “That's a big margin,” as he texts more.
“Four more years, four more years” sweeps through the venue.
The big screen television shows Obama taking the swing state of Pennsylvania.
“That's the first crack in the wall,” Walkowitz says. “That's 30 more to Obama. Romney would have like that. I don't like the way this is shaping up. I think the president may squeak home.”
Another roar, "Four more years, four more years."
Obama has just taken the swing state of Wisconsin.
"That's big," Walkowitz says. "I think things are starting to turn his way."
