Tears, joy and noise expected at US election parties

3 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Ken Quam, a 25-year-old drummer from the Washington, DC area, has already planned the street party if Barack Obama wins on Tuesday night.

"Around 10 or 11 o'clock, once it's obvious Obama has this in the bag, about 12 of us are going to be setting up our drums in the street on the corner of 14th and U," he told AFP, referring to a modern center of DC nightlife that was once a hotspot in the city's 1968 race riots.

"We've been making phone calls, telling people to bring their drums, pots, pans, whistles, whatever. We're hoping that everyone will come to sing and dance."

The election of a new government "of the people, by the people, for the people," in the words of US Civil War president Abraham Lincoln, is a political event like no other -- and is best watched among people.

In cities, towns and villages across the country, millions gathering in bars, community centers and living rooms are expected to tune in to watch the results live, with returns from each battleground state set to be greeted with delight or dismay in this polarized nation.

"There are a lot of election parties out there, but we wanted something low-key because it's going to be emotional for some people," 25-year-old Masters student Lopaka Purdy said of him and his five housemates in Washington.

"We've invited people to come to the house at 7:30 pm. Our place became the site for parties during the debates. We'll probably stay in and those that want to will go out later."

The staunchly Democratic student, who like Obama grew up in Hawaii, said he and his friends were still nervous something would go wrong despite Obama's lead in the polls.

He also raised the unspoken fear of many: urban violence if the first black candidate fails.

The biggest organized party of the night will be in Obama's home town of Chicago where the Illinois senator has booked out Grant Park on the shores of Lake Michigan for an estimated 65,000 people.

Mayor Richard Daley has encouraged others to come to the area and has predicted a crowd of a million. The Chicago police department has cancelled days off for all officers.

If Obama succeeds with his historic bid, few would be surprised if the youthful exuberance surrounding his campaign overflowed into other street celebrations around the country.

John McCain's party is to take place in his home state of Arizona at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, but aides have said the senator might skip it, preferring instead to address a gathering of supporters and a small group of reporters on the hotel lawn.

Moshe Starkman, 30, head of young Republicans in the state of Maryland, is one of thousands of volunteers on both sides who has been knocking on doors in get-out-the-vote efforts for weeks. He will finally rest his feet on election night and watch the results with a few hundred fellow Republicans at a hotel in Linthicum.

"The mood is going to be electric. It's going to be pretty awesome," he told AFP.

"We've done a lot of work so there's a certain sense of satisfaction. We don't think he (McCain) is going to take Maryland but we do feel pretty good about him winning the electoral college."

Bar owners and event organizers have been busily organizing "election night specials" for those leaving the comfort of their homes to share the tension with others.

"We're preparing a huge election blow-out party," said Alexandra Adair from the Capitol Lounge, a bar a few blocks from the US Congress in Washington.

Banners, hats, glow-in-the-dark necklaces and color-themed food and drink are on offer. (Red Republican chicken wings with a blue Democrat cheese dressing anyone? Or how about a draft beer dyed with red or blue edible ink?)

In California, 100 political partiers are set to board the Potomac presidential yacht of popular 1930s and 40s leader Franklin D. Roosevelt for a tour around the San Francisco Bay.

"What better place to enjoy a historic election than aboard FDR's beloved Potomac," said maritime historian David Perry, 46, who came up with the idea.

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