Menlo Park celebrates Obama victory on election night

The word came around 8:15 pm, only shortly after the polls had closed in Menlo Park and Atherton. The network TV stations were, one after another, calling the Presidential election: Obama would be given four more years. Jubilation erupted immediately at Democratic headquarters in Menlo Park.

“It’s over.” “We did it.” “Can you believe it?” “Thank goodness it’s over.” Those were just some of the comments made by relieved campaign workers.

The Romney campaign resisted conceding until about 10:00 pm, delaying Obama’s victory speech. The popular vote was more narrow than expected, giving people another reason to argue popular vote versus electoral college.

None of this dampened the spirits of local supporters.