Obama Victory Causes Calm - Yet Excited - Celebrations

SEBRING Humberto Ramirez's jubilation ended and sleep began around 12:30 Wednesday morning, shortly following president-elect Barack Obama's televised victory speech.

Ramirez, a Highlands County resident, spent the evening at his home celebrating with family and friends as Obama defeated Republican candidate Sen. John McCain to become the country's 44th president.

"We're so thrilled," Ramirez said. "All my neighbors came around and were yelling."

Fellow Democrat Marsha Cole was one of 100 Obama supporters who gathered Tuesday night at the Quality Inn to cheer on the Illinois senator's ascension to the White House, a first for an African-American.

Cole noted there were, "a lot of smiles, a lot of tears, a lot of 'rah-rah.'"

"Yesterday (Tuesday) was a big day," she said.

Enthusiastic Highlands County residents joined millions across the country who were celebrating Obama's historic victory, although on a smaller scale.

In Chicago's Grant Park, police estimated around 200,000 gathered to hear Obama claim victory, according to a CNN.com report.

At least 1,000 people gathered on Washington's Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House late Tuesday night, with many shouting "Obama! Obama!" and "Yes we can."

In Boston, thousands of people - many college students - hit the streets to celebrate the Democratic senator's victory, CNN.com reported. City police said the crowds were peaceful, but some streets were closed to control the hordes of people.

Other cities, such as San Francisco and Seattle, had people celebrating in the streets into the night.

In Highlands County, law enforcement officials said they received no complaints of unruly celebrations.

"I wasn't even aware of anybody that was openly happy or openly sad," Lake Placid Police Chief Phil Williams said.

Avon Park Police Chief Matt Doughney said all election-related parties, either for local or national contests, were handled respectfully.

"I'm just glad everybody went out and voted," he added.

Whether in Highlands County, Fla., or one of the other 49 states in the union, voting is exactly what people did Tuesday.

Preliminary projections based on 83 percent of the country's precincts tallied indicates more than 131 million Americans will have voted this year, according to CNN.com. That easily outdistances 2004's 122.3 million.

Bruce Borkosky, another reveler at the Sebring Quality Inn party, said the attendees would start screaming each time another state went blue for Obama.

"People were really jazzed," he said.

Debra Lewis' night ended around 1 a.m., after the declaration had been made, the speeches concluded and the cheering stopped.

To witness such an historical election, the late evening was a small price to pay.

"It showed you that anything is possible," Lewis said.