Republicans were breathing a slight sigh of relief last night as two out of the three major networks were projecting George Bush as emerging victorious and securing another four years in the White House.
At the time of publication, NBC and ABC were predicting a victory for Bush citing Ohio and New Mexico as states the president would carry, locking up the necessary 270 votes in the electoral college to win.
The Kerry campaign, however, was not willing to concede a victory to Bush. Campaign spokeswoman Mary Beth Cahill insisted there were still 250,000 votes left to count in Ohio and said they were confident that once these votes were counted Kerry would secure Ohio's 20 electoral votes.
Throughout the night College Democrats and College Republicans gathered at state political parties at hotels in downtown Columbus, eagerly anticipating the results but reaming optimistic for their respective candidates. Students mulled among state officials, drinking and discussing the latest exit polls.
"The mood here is very anxious and frustrating because so many polls in Ohio won't be done till midnight," said Ryan Jolley, president of OSU's College Democrats, standing among other student Kerry supporters at the Democratic Election Watch party. "Ohio will be the deciding factor and we won't know until two or three in the morning. We'll be here until everyone passes out."
"We are very optimistic and realize that many precincts still have voters in line," Jolley said. "But many are urban precincts that usually vote overwhelmingly democratic. As the hours progress our numbers will get better."
Local networks were reporting that all votes in Ohio will not be counted until three or four in the morning.
"We are excited, but it's a nervous excited," said Sarah Grew, a junior in political science, in between cheers for victorious Democrats throughout the country. "We are cautiously confident, but we are optimistic and ready for a change."
"People came out in record numbers," Grew said. "We are holding strong voters for Kerry and the Democrats. Hopefully we'll come out on top."
College Republicans at the state election watch event were excited and optimistic based on Bush's exit poll results.
"I'm feeling really good about this," said Ashlee Mundy, a sophomore in theater and a Bush supporter. "I know we've put a lot of effort into what we've been doing with the College Republicans and I think we've got the word out a lot and I'm feeling really hopeful for Ohio especially. If he loses you know what, I'm gonna suck it up and hope for the best for the next four years."
Lee Cordeoo, a freshman in chemistry, reiterated the support for Bush at the Republican party downtown.
"So far it's looking like it's leaning our way," Cordeoo said. "It feels that all the work we've been doing has finally paid off."
Students voiced their pride in last-minute efforts made on behalf of both candidates.
"I've been involved in the campaign effort over the past week and I've just really seen a strong push by all the volunteers," said Laura Green, a senior in geography. "Just getting out and really getting the job done in the last few days."
Many of the students noted significant changes from the close 2000 presidential election.
"This election is much more intense than it was in 2000," Grew said. "The biggest difference has got to be the level of participation of young voters and newly registered voters. Outside political action groups like MTV have been a big thing and all the people in Hollywood. Education has been a big thing."
Grew said the polls showing support for each candidate can be misleading because college students with no landlines are left out of the polling data. Students like Grew as well as many major networks broadcasting the results emphasized the importance of the young vote.
"The young vote is so important," said Bailey Cultice, a liaison for the Franklin County young Democrats and also a visibility coordinator for the OSU group Students for Kerry. "I heard from someone the population at OSU could swing this election with the youth turnout. Seventeen percent of students are more for Kerry. In 2000 it was only 4 percent for Gore."
"I honestly think it's going to be the swing," Grew said. "Who young people vote for will presumably enter the White House."
Earlier last night, NBC reported that young voters aged 18 to 29 years voted for Kerry by 58 percent and Bush by 41 percent.
Democratic students were reluctant to foresee a Kerry loss.
"If he (Kerry) loses I'm moving to Europe," Grew said.
Britt Thompson, a senior in early childhood education, reiterated the sentiment saying that if Kerry lost she would move to Canada.
Aaron Stollar contributed to this story
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