One election, two parties, and a strange, wild ride: Dems

By Orianne Dutka

To Part 1: GOP

Being in the traditional Democratic stronghold of New Haven was not enough to keep numerous members of the Yale College Democrats (YCD) from nervously biting their nails and compulsively checking the CNN website as the clock wound down on Election Day. Having traveled as far as Philadelphia and Princeton over the past few weeks in order to promote the Democrats, the organization spent Tuesday evening at Toad's Place at an event thrown by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), watching to see if the fruits of their labor would be realized. The Herald joined them throughout the night.

8:00, Jonathan Edwards College: Stuart Allen, JE '02, the co-coordinator of the Yale Students for Gore Campaign, sits on a sofa in his common room, eyes darting back and forth between the television and his laptop. "We got Florida!" he screams. "Thank God!" Relieved that Florida, his biggest concern, has gone to Al Gore, Allen is sure that California, New York, New Jersey, and probably Pennsylvania will follow.

8:45, Toad's: The club is decorated with red and purple balloons and Rosa DeLauro signs. The members of the YCD begin to arrive, mostly celebrating the victory in Florida. Michelle Kanter, BR '03, a resident of the Sunshine State, carries a donkey Beanie Baby that looks like an American flag on her shoulder. "Florida was really close, but I'm not surprised," she says.

9:00: Cheers erupt as Gore takes Pennsylvania and New York. Caroline Barber, DC '02, who heads the Reproduction Rights Action League of Yale, is slightly disappointed as she reflects, "Pro-choice was not enough of an issue in the Gore campaign." On the other hand, she claims, "I didn't think that I would have a smile on my face at this time earlier on, and now I keep on smiling." At the same time, Cassandra Porsch, CC '01, co-coordinator of the Students for Gore Campaign, celebrates Hillary Clinton's, LAW '73, victory. Hailing from Long Island, a largely Republican stronghold, Porsch commented, "I handed out fliers for Clinton this summer and people were so rude to me. It was very disheartening. Now, I am just ecstatic."

9:10: Mayor John DeStefano, Jr. gives out kisses and hugs. "So far so good," he says. "I'm slightly excited about Lieberman being a hometown candidate. No, I'm just kidding—it's very exciting to have him up there. I was nervous about today, but am really excited about the high voter turnout here in New Haven. I think that that reflected that other urban centers around the nation would have a high voter turnout."

9:35: "Still the One" booms over the stereo as Rosa DeLauro enters the room, having been re-elected for the sixth time.

10:00: CNN announces that Florida is now too close to call. Megan von Reinhart, PC '02, a YCD member, cries, "I knew not to trust CNN in the first place when they said Florida went to Gore." YCD President Lex Paulson, ES '02, is undaunted, saying, "I'm keeping my faith in my VP. No matter what happens with tonight, I know the good guys will win in the end."

11:00: Some members are growing disheartened while others try to convince them that victory is still possible. They try a cheer. "When I say Al, you say Gore: Al Gore! Al Gore! When I say number, you say one: number one!" As the television reveals that Gore has taken California and Hawaii, Campus Coordinator Irene Liu's, SY '02, spirits are lifted. "I'm so psyched," she says. "We're going to win, no doubt about it."

11:15: Ward One Alderman Julio Gonzalez, CC '99, claims, "Prosperity in this country has gone on for so long that people are forgetting that policy is more important than character. Gore's a fine leader, but like any other person in the political process, he won't look like a saint."

12:20: Ralph Nader appears on the television. Shouts of "I hate that man" erupt from YDC members. Michelle Mayorga, JE '03, a native of Florida, gets off of the phone with her mother, whom she has talked to on Paulson's cell phone throughout the night. "It's exciting that my home state will make a difference in this election and that my absentee ballot is really going to count," she says.

2:00: The YDC members head to the JE buttery when Toad's closes. When they get there, CNN announces that Bush has won the election. "Are the American people that stupid?" one asks. Another shouts, "I hate Nader!" Allen tries to lift the spirits of the group, arguing that, since the media was wrong about Florida, they could be wrong about this, too. "We have to have faith in our candidate," he says. 2:45: Exhausted, but not without hope for Gore, everybody heads home.

Wednesday evening: Allen led a vigil for Gore in front of Dwight Hall. "I'm still optimistic at this point," he said, "but this is such a mess." With the election still undecided, the YCD continues to keep faith in its candidate.

Graphic by Sarah England.

To Part 1: GOP

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