海角大神

Chicago 鈥� When early polls closed at 7 p.m. Eastern time, April Branch and her daughter, 海角大神, sat huddled around the TV in their home on Chicago鈥檚 South Side. Ms. Branch had taken the day off work to take her 18-year-old daughter to vote for the first time, and the two 鈥� wearing matching Obama T-shirts 鈥� wondered if this would be the year they鈥檇 see an African-American elected president of the United States.

It was too early, they thought, to be optimistic. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a little cynical after 2000,鈥� says April.

Seven hundred miles away in Dallas, Ga., Rocky Swann had finished his stakeout on Ridge Road, where he'd held a McCain sign to influence passing voters, and was about to head to the Paulding County Republican headquarters, where about 20 people were eating tiny hot dogs wrapped in bacon and watching the returns come in.

鈥淭his is an election for the soul of America, as I see it,鈥� says Mr. Swann, a Vietnam War veteran turned high school history teacher.

And in Chicago鈥檚 Grant Park, where some 70,000 ticketholders were lining up to enter the biggest Election Night party in America, and hundreds of thousands more gathered nearby, Ben Oklan was busy volunteering for the Obama campaign, trying to ensure that the event would go smoothly.

鈥淚鈥檝e been counting down until 6 o鈥檆lock [7 p.m. Eastern time] since noon today,鈥� says the San Francisco resident, who was laid off from his job as a tax attorney one week ago. 鈥淣ow that it鈥檚 finally 6, I wish it was 7 p.m. When 7 rolls around, I鈥檒l want it to be 8.鈥�

As the huge screen above Grant Park flashed the first election results, Mr. Oklan jumped up and down excitedly. 鈥淐ome on Georgia, Indiana!鈥� This is great!鈥�

Across the country, Americans were glued to their televisions and Blackberries Tuesday night, watching the returns come in at home, at parties with friends, or out in streets and churches and community centers. They celebrated or mourned, depending on their political convictions, as state after state was called. Some Obama supporters continued to bite their nails, fearing to hope despite the positive polls and media stories, and some McCain supporters clung to the possibility that the polls were wrong and that other Americans would see the choice on Tuesday in the same stark terms they did.

A few individuals in these three locales in America provide one small window into the jubilation 鈥� or disappointment 鈥� that millions of fellow citizens felt as they watched the 2008 election finally come to its historic end.

* * *
Early Tuesday evening, those gathered at the Republican headquarters in Paulding County, known to many in the state as Republicanville, USA, saw their first 鈥� and only 鈥� lead of the night. It's just 7:04, and their man, John McCain, had captured 13 electoral votes to Barack Obama鈥檚 three. 鈥淲e鈥檙e winning!鈥� says Paulette Braddock, who helped cook the food for the post-election party.

鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that the polling leaned toward Obama just like the media leaned toward Obama,鈥� says Emil Infusino, a civilian government worker who spent most of his life in the US Navy. 鈥淚 really think McCain is going to pull it off.鈥�

They get more encouragement just after 8, when Georgia begins to trend toward Senator McCain. 鈥淚t鈥檚 real close,鈥� says Mr. Swann. 鈥淐鈥檓on, McCain! You can do it!鈥�

Thirty minutes later, they hear Georgia has elected McCain by a comfortable margin. 鈥淲e鈥檝e done our part,鈥� says one woman.

* * *
In Chicago's Grant Park, the excitement is palpable. The first ticketholders are let in just after 6 p.m., and they sprint across the wide expanse to nab prime spots with a good view of the stage. Oklan, the goateed Obama volunteer, is watching hopefully as the Indiana results come in, trying to soak up the atmosphere.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if I鈥檒l understand the full ramifications of this until weeks from now,鈥� he says. Until this year, he was the 鈥渄efinition of the apathetic voter,鈥� barely voting in elections, let alone following them. Obama鈥檚 candidacy inspired him, however, and his recent layoff made it personal.

鈥淚鈥檇 like to see a resounding win 鈥� a clear message from the country that this is the direction we want to move in,鈥� says Oklan. At this point, 鈥淚鈥檓 feeling good," he admits. "But as the night goes on, things might change. I never want to rely on polls.鈥�

* * *
At the Branch house on Chicago's South Side, the election party is growing. Two friends from April鈥檚 teenage years stop by. Sandra Boyd, who drove in from suburban Flossmoor, Ill., reports that the roadside LED signs were tracking electoral votes.

鈥淭he first one had him at 198, and the next one at 171,鈥� she says of Obama's Electoral College totals. 鈥淚鈥檓 like, 鈥榃hich one?鈥� 鈥�

Ms. Boyd laughs, but later she confesses that earlier in the day, after waiting more than two hours to vote, she stood alone in the voting booth and cried.

鈥淚 did too! I broke down!鈥� says April.

News of states like Kentucky and West Virginia going to McCain don鈥檛 make folks here lose hope.

The Southern states 鈥渉aven鈥檛 really voted Democratic maybe since before I was born,鈥� says April. 海角大神 reminds her of how close Kentucky is to Chicago.

鈥淒on鈥檛 go south of Kankakee,鈥� her mother responds.

Then, some good news: 鈥淥hio!!!鈥�

April shouts and claps for the first time, celebrating Senator Obama鈥檚 win in a hard-fought battleground state. She reaches for her cellphone to call her brother in Dayton. 鈥淲e all know what trouble y鈥檃ll had in that last election,鈥� she tells him.

* * *
In Dallas, Ga., the Ohio call hit hard.

Jessica Gullett, representing what local McCain chair Micah Gravley calls Paulding County鈥檚 鈥渘ew Republicans,鈥� watches the returns at Vito鈥檚 Cafe, a second Republican hangout in the county.

A 20-something vegetarian with pink-tinted hair and sensible clogs, Ms. Gullett says she was 鈥減olitically homeless鈥� until this election 鈥� an independent-minded constitutionalist with a strong pro-life bent that extends to fighting the death penalty.

A gathering of about 50 McCain supporters quickly dwindles to a dozen, and Gullett picks up a blue elephant and a party hat decked with red, white, and blue candies and heads for the door. The only good news: Paulding County delivered for McCain, and Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R) will continue to represent Georgia, dashing the Democrats鈥� hopes of an invincible hold on Congress.

鈥淚t鈥檚 scary, and I鈥檓 sad and tired,鈥� says Gullett. "I鈥檓 going hope to take a hot bath and play with my dog." Her dog is a huge German shepherd named Rocky. Sylvester Stallone, she points out, supported McCain.

Swann has also headed home, discouraged. At 10:47, with MSNBC on his computer and Fox News on TV, he鈥檚 losing hope. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not looking good,鈥� he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 dreading an Obama presidency.鈥�

A few minutes later 鈥� before the networks have officially called the election 鈥� he鈥檚 in bed. He鈥檚 due at Republican headquarters at 9 Wednesday morning to collect campaign signs. 鈥淚鈥檓 bringing a box of Kleenex with me,鈥� he says.

* * *
Oklan, the Obama volunteer, is feeling good 鈥� and harried. He鈥檚 been escorting reporters into the throng, and his back is aching. It鈥檚 hard to watch the returns as closely as he鈥檇 like, but 鈥淚鈥檓 hearing cheers, so I know it鈥檚 good,鈥� he says. 鈥淵ou feel it in the crowd. People are ecsatic. There鈥檚 an energy out there.鈥�

With every state called for Obama, the crowd erupts into cheers 鈥� particularly for hard-won places like Pennsylvania and Ohio. News that Obama is leading in states too close to call elicits more roars from the crowd.

鈥淵ou walk down the streets here tonight, and everybody loves everybody,鈥� says Kerrie Rosenthal, an Obama supporter who drove in from the suburb of Palatine with her daughter, Sarah. Ms. Rosenthal arrived at the polls to volunteer at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. Over three days, she says, she knocked on 500 doors as an Obama canvasser, and she has made more phone calls than she can count. She and three friends had decided that this was the year they had to be active for what they believed in.

At 11 p.m. Eastern time, CNN calls Virginia for Obama and, moments later, the presidency.

As the crowd roars around her, Rosenthal tears up, a smile fixed to her face.

鈥淵es we did! Yes we did!鈥� she says loudly, and soon others around her join in the chant. 鈥淐an you say President Obama?鈥� she asks.

Then she and her daughter are locked in a long, tearful hug. 鈥淭his is the first time that the people have had a voice in a long, long time,鈥� Rosenthal tells her daughter.

* * *
鈥淲ow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.鈥�

In the Branch home, one word is enough when CNN announces the winner.

鈥淥h Jesus, we鈥檙e going to have a black president,鈥� says April.

鈥淢y first vote!鈥� 海角大神 says, hopping up and down, before calling her grandmother to relay the news.

鈥淭ell her,鈥� April says.

鈥淪he鈥檚 turning to it.鈥�

鈥淛ust tell her. Did she see it?鈥�

鈥淪he says we鈥檙e going to see black children playing on the White House lawn!鈥� Christan shouts.

April says she wishes her grandfather were alive to witness this moment. Likewise for her friend, Sandra Boyd.

鈥淗ow long did it take to get from the Underground Railroad to this?鈥� asks Boyd, through tears.

鈥淭wo-hundred-thirty years,鈥� says April.

After watching McCain鈥檚 concession speech, April takes stock.

鈥淚t happened in my lifetime,鈥� she says. 鈥淎nd my grandmother鈥檚 and my mother鈥檚.鈥�

They all fall silent for Obama鈥檚 speech.

鈥淗e sounds like [Martin Luther] King,鈥� says Boyd.

鈥淗e sounds like a president,鈥� says April.

They scream as Obama ends on a note of universal hope.

"This will be a story to tell your kids,鈥� Boyd tells the teenage 海角大神.

* * *
In Paulding County, the straggling few Republicans are nursing their wounds.

At 11:03, just after Obama is declared the victor, Mr. Gravely receives a text message: 鈥淕od help us.鈥�

Since the campaign began, Gravley and his wife have had a daughter, and his wife is now pregnant with their second child. He says he鈥檒l take some time off from political organizing.

鈥淚 named my first daughter Hope, but my second one won鈥檛 be named Change,鈥� he says.

鈥淪till,鈥� he acknowledges, 鈥渢hough I鈥檓 on the wrong side of it, you can鈥檛 deny this was a historic election.鈥�

By the time Obama gives his acceptance speech, Vito鈥檚 Cafe is empty and dark, the chairs on the tables.

* * *
In Grant Park, the crowd is getting revved up. As they wait for Obama's acceptance speech, people break into chants of 鈥淥bama!鈥� and 鈥淵es we can.鈥� They sing along to Stevie Wonder's 鈥淪igned, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours.鈥�

When Obama appears on stage, Rosenthal takes a precarious position standing on a fence, arms on another Obama supporter for balance, to get a glimpse of the president-elect.

鈥淚s this it?鈥� she asks. 鈥淥h my God!鈥�

鈥淢om, take pictures!鈥� Sarah tells her excitedly, trying to pass up her camera.

鈥淚 can鈥檛,鈥� says the teetering Rosenthal. 鈥淚 just have to remember it here,鈥� she adds, pointing to her head.

As Obama addresses the crowd, she listens rapt, hand on her heart, nodding along.

鈥淗e鈥檚 our president,鈥� she tells her daughter at the end of the speech, as the throng around her hugs, rocks, cheers, and cries together.

Oklan, who was about 100 feet from the main stage when the election was called for Obama, stays front and center for the speech. He jumps and screams, and his friends burst into tears.

鈥淚 could see his facial expressions without the projection screen,鈥� he says afterward in disbelief. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe what I鈥檝e been a part of.鈥�

He鈥檚 getting ready to head to a celebration party, and then plans to relax Wednesday before flying back to San Francisco. Despite his exhaustion, he can鈥檛 contain his jubilation.

鈥淚鈥檓 just elated,鈥� Oklan says. 鈥淗ow much this means for our country, and how much it means for me personally, as one of the 760,000 recently laid off. It gives me hope for change.鈥�

Ms. Paulson reported from Chicago's Grant Park, Mr. Guarino from the South Side, and Mr. Jonsson from Dallas, Ga.