Brief coverage of an election night party in BG. Published 6 Feb.
It was like a breadstick stuffed with politics.
Around 50 University students and faculty members, fueled by $200 worth of food and two widescreen TVs tuned to CNN, crowded into Campus Pollyeyes last night for “Raucous Caucus” to watch the Super Tuesday returns trickle in.
The turnout nearly breached Pollyeyes’ fire safety limit and far exceeded what the organizers, political science honors society Pi Sigma Alpha, expected.
“This is amazing that so many people are so excited about the election,” said Corinne Staggs, the society’s president.
Drinks of all kinds were flowing and the night lived up to its name well before 8 p.m., when the first wave of polls closed.
But as CNN started showing its projected winners, cheers erupted from all sides.
Barack Obama had huge support in the room.
“Yeah! Take it! Take it Obama!” yelled one supporter toward a TV showing the senator had worked out a narrow lead in Connecticut.
Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton drew a chorus of boos when she was predicted to win Oklahoma.
A group of College Republicans, many of whom supported Mitt Romney, sat in the far end of the room, holding out hope as early returns suggested wins for his chief rival, John McCain.
In a corner booth close to the door, a small but dedicated group of Ron Paul supporters vowed to stick with their candidate beyond the primaries, even though his chances of winning were close to nil.
Quentin Wise, the College Republican’s chair, said the turnout made the night a success.
“This is our big event, this is it – the election,” Wise said.
