Election Night 2008 as seen through the eyes of a first time voter.

Pictures from
National AFL-CIO
Headquarters
Washington, D.C.

Election Night
Tuesday - November 4, 2008

Election Night 2008
By: Joe Cloher    

     On the evening of November 4th I had to take some exposures for a photography project.  The assignment had the presidential election at its heart.  I had voted in the morning early, but you are not allowed to take pictures there. Then I had school and work. I got home at 9:30 pm and was tired, but still facing that assignment.  I knew I needed some pics and needed to head out once again.  Before I left my house I was trying to figure out where should I go? To a sports bar? To a restaurant? Then I decided I was going down to the city...Washington D.C. I left the house dressed up in a white button down, a blue tie and a brown sport coat. As you could tell I was dressed with my democrat tie on and I was super excited. The reason I was excited was because it was my first election that I was able to vote in and I decided to make it a monumental vote for the man I thought would best lead the United States. You could Imagine the smile I had on my face this night because If elected Obama would make history and I was in the center of it. When I arrived in D.C. I was driving looking for a place to go and we passed a lot of places having election parties. I passed the Ritz Carlton and people were basically falling out the doors it was so packed (probably with Republicans). Then we drove by the National HQ’s for the AFL-CIO. We could see into the large front windows and there were so many people.  It was a party in the making and just the place to be in kindred company and get some great pics. We were able to park just one block from the White House and around the corner from the AFL-CIO building headquarters on 16th street.  We started talking to people who work there and were made to feel very welcome. There was live music and the band was jamming.   At first people were just milling around helping themselves to the free wine, beer and edibles.  The air was electric with excitement.  As time went on, the spirits rose.  All the news was positive.  As people greeted their friends arriving, everyone kept an eye on the large TV screen at one end of the huge lobby.  When CNN announced for Obama around 10:15 pm the crowd was whooping it up. 
People were crying, laughing, and hugging each other. Lots of celebration. Lots of excitement. I was so glad to be part of such a momentous occasion.  One I am sure to remember for the rest of my life.

     Driving home we passed crowds of people heading south towards the White House.  Later, we saw this huge crowd which had assembled in front of the White House where we had been not 30 minutes earlier.  AN AWESOME EVENING!