John McCain conceded the presidential race to Barack Obama last night shortly after polls closed in California, pushing the Illinois senator over the 270 electoral vote threshold required for victory.
“My friends, we have – we have come to the end of a long journey,” Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) said in his concession speech on the lawn of the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa shortly after 11 p.m. EST. “The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly.”
McCain supporters on the campus mirrored sentiments of those around the country, saying they were disappointed but not surprised at McCain’s loss and chalking the Democrat’s victory up to a lack of universal support within and outside of the Republican base.
“I think we all kind of knew a couple weeks ahead what was going to happen,” sophomore art major and member of Republican Women of Maryland Rachael Lavin said. “I’ve never been a big Obama fan, so I never considered supporting him, but my idea wasn’t voting for McCain but against Obama. I don’t think anyone truly voted for McCain.”
Many Republican students said McCain did not have the appeal he needed to pull through in the end, alienating conservatives and moderates with his voting record and policies.
In the end, however, Republicans were humble in defeat, citing a love for their country that trumps all partisan leanings.
“I am disappointed,” said Republican Brett George, a senior computer science major. “I think it’s a terrible move for our country, but the people have spoken. It’s still my country. Just because I’m not crazy about the leader doesn’t change anything.”
In his speech, McCain acknowledged the historical nature of the election results and congratulated Obama on his hard-fought victory over a low rumble of audience jeers and boos.
“In a contest as long and as difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance,” McCain said, despite having criticized Obama during the last several months as being too inexperienced to be president.
Students emphasized that, regardless of election results, the fierce animosity between the two national parties is not as harsh between student groups, a reality that helps to lessen the sting of an Obama victory.
“There is some good news coming from this,” Republican Dave Roselle, a junior architecture major said. “The whole campus is coming together. There’s an energy you don’t get to see that often. The change is still going to be positive. … I’m curious when all the excitement wears off what’s going to actually happen.”
The Associated Press and staff writers Allison Stice and Erich Wagner contributed to this report. langdbk@gmail.com
