At 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, Sen. Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States, and the crowd of Democrats inside the Landmark Inn erupted.
“This is everything that I didn’t sleep for,” said Alicia McCauley, a senior international studies and foreign languages major and volunteer for the Democratic headquarters. “Nearly one year ago, we were in Iowa campaigning for Obama on the streets of Dubuque, and he won there.”
Tears rolled down her face as she watched Obama give his acceptance speech.
The Marquette Democrats hosted the election watch in the Landmark Inn on Tuesday night. The event was well attended by both NMU students and Marquette community members. Also present were Congressman Bart Stupak and State Representative Steve Lindberg. Both thanked all the volunteers who helped canvass for Obama in the Marquette area.
“You made 220,000 contacts, knocked on 69,000 doors,” Stupak said. “Thanks for all the work. Obama is going to be our next president. I’ve been around the block a couple of times and this is one of the most organized campaigns I’ve ever seen. Good days are coming.”
As the evening progressed, cheers could be heard over the underlying murmur of the crowd as Obama victories were confirmed in individual states.
However, it was when Obama was officially announced as the new president-elect that the entire room became animated.
When the announcement was made, the crowd exploded into cheers and cries of “Yes we can.” Some people began crying while others hugged whoever they were next to.
David Cooper, a philosophy professor, said he was overwhelmed that Americans had elected their first black president.
“I teared up,” he said. “I mean, I actually cried . I can still remember Jim Crow laws, when black people had to go to the back of the bus, or the back of the theater. (Obama winning) is good for America; it’s good for the world.”
Cameron Fure, president of the College Democrats, said the results were what he’s been waiting for since he began working with the Obama campaign.
“It’s an amazing feeling. We all worked so hard for two years . I worked so hard to register students, to get them involved. It feels like it paid off,” he said.
The College Democrats were active on campus all semester, trying to register as many students as they could before the Oct. 6 deadline. Many students involved in the group also helped out at the Democratic Headquarters, knocking on doors and calling potential voters in order to get as many people to the polls as they could.
According to the Associated Press, the voter turnout in last Tuesday’s election, once tallied, would exceed 64 percent, making it the highest national turnout in 100 years.
Donald Dreisbach, a philosophy professor, said it was the large number of voters that allowed Obama to win his seat in the White House.
“I think it’s great. I also think you kids did it,” he said. “There was a tremendous turnout all over the country of people under 23. Most of the energy for Obama came from young people.
“I think we have a happy future,” he added. “You’re beginning your careers; I’m ending mine, and (Obama’s) good for both of us.”
While Cooper was happy about Obama winning, he said he gives most of that credit to young voters.
“I was at precinct seven, and I couldn’t believe the number of students who stood in line and waited and waited and waited,” he said. “I think the students elected Obama, frankly.”
Many people were also walking around, slapping each other on the back, talking about how long the battle for the presidency had been.
Derrick Grongin, a sophomore nursing major, said though the campaign was long, it was worth it in the end.
“It’s absolutely amazing (that Obama won.),” he said. “It’s been too long. I’ve been waiting 21 months. I think the world’s excited, and I think he’ll do a lot of great things.”
Standing next to him was Lori Bunnin, a speech communications major. She summed up how most of the crowd of Democrats felt about the election in four short words:
“It’s definitely about time.”
