When we got to the restaurant the
outcome of the election was still in doubt according to the numbers.
Polls had just closed in Mountain time zone and the pundits were still
spinning strategic webs that gave the impression that McCain might win,
even though it was "tough".
The main reason we were there was to
celebrate the end of this campaign trail for Peter Myers and Carol
Brouillet, our congressional candidates. For me, most of Peter's
friends were new faces. I spent most of the time until the food came
out meeting some of them.
We were still eating when word came
that the AP had called the election for Obama and McCain was about to
concede. There was a mad rush to get the restaurant to turn up the
volume so we could hear the concession speech.
McCain was very gracious. He
congratulated Obama for his historic win and pledged to work together
with him going forward.
After McCain left the stage Peter read
the
results according to the Santa Clara County registrar of voters. His
iPhone was all it took. Neither he nor Carol was within shot of winning
the race.
We went back to socializing after that. A bit later attention returned
to the TVs, where Barak Obama took the stage.
By the end of the speech lots of us had
tears in our eyes, including me.