"I have the latest exit poll. Bush is exiting, Cheney is exiting and Barack Obama is entering the White House!" said Kerry in front of hundreds of Democrat supporters. The U.S. Senator showed little doubt in the final outcomes of the night's race. Kerry expressed his appreciation for all of the support Massachusetts has provided him. He later won the race against Republican Jeff Beatty to earn his fifth senate term.
Supporters include everyone from campaign leaders to a group of college Democrats. Tegan Murray is just one of many volunteers that came to tonight's event to show her unyielding support for Barack Obama. Murray
"The way the country is now it's just in a horrible position. Our reputation around the world is just terrible. We try to volunteer at every election but this one was one that we thought was just so obvious to come to," said Murray.
Not only would Obama become the first African American President of the United States, but he would do so at the most vulnerable economic time in America since the Great Depression. While change has been the overlying theme of Obama's campaign, it has also become a theme amongst voters who will vote Democratic for the first time this year. The President of Catholic Democrats, Patrick Whalen, came to tonight's event with his 9-year-old son to see history in the making.
"We thought very strongly that he was the best candidate for Catholics to vote for on all levels," he said. Some of Whalen's primary interests lie in Obama's stance on the war, abortion and the economy. Whalen addresses the idea that many Catholics may not vote for a Democrat, but makes note of the fact that 40% of Catholics are undecided and represent the swing vote. The Catholic Democrats believe that Obama's strongest suit will be how he deals with the war, which Whalen calls a "moral failure."
"Obama clearly has the kind of commitment to solving problems in a diplomatic way and not in a militaristic way, so that was a major reason that we supported him from the beginning," Whalen said.
In addition to the impact of Catholic voters, the youth vote played an essential part in tonight's results. Young adults crowded the second floor balcony of the ballroom to show their support for a change in administration. For so many young people, this will be the first year that they have paid attention to the issues and developed their own opinion of what should come of this election. Amber Shapiro, 25, went home sick from work earlier in the day but said that she felt tonight was too important to miss. This was Amber's second time voting in the general election, but the first time she has felt so passionate about the result.
"I feel like that last election we were voting against something. We were voting against Bush. This time we are voting for someone and something. It's much more tangible and something you can believe in," Shapiro said. "It's important to me since I have lived abroad that I can be proud of my country when I leave the country. That so many people support him outside and see him as such a positive figure means a lot to me."
Young Americans, with tears in their eyes, gathered on the steps of the Boston Public Library. Despite the presence of Boston Police, there is no riot and no destruction of property. Amongst the young demonstrators in Copley Square, the feeling is positive. One young man emerged from a local bar just after the announcement to express a sense of excitement and relief. "It's done! It's Over! Obama wins!" he said raising his fists in the air.
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