Once again, it looked like it would all come down to Florida.
The state was 50-50 for hours after polls closed.
Even after networks started calling the election for President Barack Obama, Florida remained persistently close.
“My stomach is in knots,” said Carly Borden, a 21-year-old UF political science junior.
But then, about an hour into Wednesday morning, it didn’t matter.
With Florida’s electoral votes still in play, Republican nominee Mitt Romney conceded, officially securing Obama’s re-election.
When the votes started rolling in Tuesday night, it became evident to supporters on both sides of the political aisle that every vote would indeed count.
“I’ve personally called about 5,000 Floridians,” said Katy Melchiorre, a 21-year-old political science and telecommunications senior and UF College Republicans chairwoman. “So the fact it could come down to 5,000 votes is nerve-wracking.”
Alachua County went to Obama with 57.68 percent — 69,219 votes. Romney earned 40.44 percent with 48,527 votes.
The county became a blue island in a Republican sea as county votes were announced on blaring television screens in bars and homes across the city.
MSNBC called Obama’s victory, then CNN and Fox.
Christina Ford, 20-year-old Gators for Obama co-chairwoman, pulled out her phone to confirm the projected win on the Obama campaign Twitter.
Someone popped a bottle of champagne and sprayed it over the crowd of teary-eyed Obama supporters. Ford, a political science and economics sophomore, and Gators for Obama co-chairwoman Rachel McGovern danced and embraced as “My Girl” by The Temptations blasted over the speakers and people joined in chants of “Four more years.”
“I know that he’s going to continue to look forward to greater equality for women, greater equality for the LGBT community,” said McGovern, a 20-year-old political science junior. “We’ve been working so hard for this.”
Romney supporters said they weren’t surprised that Alachua County went to Obama.
“University of Florida as a whole is more liberal, and that attributes Alachua County going to Obama,” said Nick Boley, a 21-year-old industrial and systems engineering senior. “I’m not surprised.”
But the national vote was another story.
After Fox News called Obama the winner, a group of about 10 Gators for Romney students shared a round of Blue Moon beers as a couple of students shed tears at the Salty Dog Saloon.
As the young Republicans waited for the Florida election results to roll in, they said they couldn’t help but feel dismayed.
“Just to come up short like this, to all the people that have worked on this, is disappointing,” said Frank Moehrle, 21-year-old Gators for Romney chairman and political science senior.
As in the 2008 election, various groups emphasized student voting as essential in this race.
For the Reitz Union, an all-student precinct, 3,432 people voted — fewer than 2008’s 3,923 votes.
For Obama supporters, this night meant more than numbers. It meant months of hard work and support paid off.
Ford spent countless hours on the campaign because, she said, she felt this was the best use of her time — better than end-of-semester parties or even her college transcript.
“I’ve given up my social life, grades, everything, and it was all worth it,” Ford said. “This will have an impact way past my college years.”
Contact Kathryn Varn at kvarn@alligator.org or Michael Scott Davidson at mdavidson@alligator.org.
President Barack Obama waves as he walks on stage with first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha at his election night party Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Chicago. President Obama defeated Republican challenger former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney waves to supporters before conceding at his election night rally, Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
