Hundreds of Democrats gathered in Dublin city centre last night, cautiously optimistic that Barack Obama would emerge victorious in the US presidential race.
At an event organised by Democrats Abroad at Café en Seine on Dawson Street, supporters were in expectant mood – although no one was getting carried away as the result began to unfold.
“I’m feeling a mixture of hope and terror,” confided Mary Kay Simmons, the Democrats Abroad Ireland organiser. “The current administration has disgraced the US. We’re in such a mess. I’d like to believe we’re going to win – but it’s just too early.”
Among the 200 or so supporters at the event was Jim Coffey (80) from Chicago, whose son worked on Mr Obama’s campaign team long before he became a presidential contender.
“This feels like it could be the re-birth of a country,” he said. “I voted for Harry Truman back ‘48. I voted for John F. Kennedy in 1960. But this feels so historic. I’ve known segregated railroad cars in my time, I’ve know of attempts to block black people voting in the south and I remember the civil rights marches of the 1960s. This feels like we could be about to finally move on from all of that.”
Over at the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, more than a thousand people gathered to watch the results unfold at an event organised by US ambassador Thomas C. Foley.
Barely a handful of Republicans were in evidence among the hundreds of people sporting Obama t-shirts and hats. Even the cardboard cut-out of John McCain cut a lonesome image as party-goers thronged to be photographed alongside a life-sized photograph of Barrack Obama.
Mr Foley – a college friend of President George W. Bush – acknowledged as much.
“I was talking to some of my Republicans friends asking them if they were going to come out to the reception. Most of them aren’t – they’re going to stay at home drinking.”
Dozens of politicians were out in force at the ambassador’s reception.
A number of Government Ministers, including Micheál Martin, Mary Hanafin, Eamon Ryan, Dick Roche were taking in the results on the large television screens, along with dozens of opposition deputies.
Former taoiseach Albert Reynolds – an avid self-confessed Barrack Obama supporter – was predicting a comfortable win for the Democrat.
“I’ve liked him for a while now,” he said. “The Republicans have made an absolute mess of things, so he should have no problem. It’s time for change.”
