BLUE BASH WRAP

The Fat Lady may be singing at the Republican party in Medford, but she's still just warming up her pipes here.

Maybe 40 people are left at the Ashland Armory as Democratic revelers take history home with them.

Lots of group hugs and the final "We We're Here" photos are getting snapped as the caterers clean tables.

Most of the media is gone, replaced by a string of stragglers picking through the remnants of the appetizer and dessert tables.

That's got to be proof that the Blue Bash is ready to fade to black.

Cue the 300-pound Diva in pigtails.

The fat lady must have sung

It's quiet and kids are taking the balloons outside to pop them. Incumbent State Rep. Sal Esquivel and some of his supporters are still here, nervously waiting for new numbers -- the latest figures show him trailing challenger Lynn Howe by a few hundred votes.

Local GOP Chairman Bryan Platt is going through the bills and trying to keep his head from totally plugging up from a head cold -- he's been living on cold medicine and adrenaline. He's stayed remarkably upbeat and energetic through it all, probably more upbeat than about 90 percent of the people who were in the room tonight.

The end is sight, at least for this blog -- in fact, the end is here.

IT'S NOT OVER

The Blue Bash is fading fast.

A crowd of about 500 is down to fewer than 70 as the Dems go out to enjoy their historic day.

Not so fast, Jim Olney!

Olney is locked in a dead heat with C.W. Smith for Smith's seat on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, and the results are trickling in.

Some SNAFU at the Jackson County Courthouse has left results at a standstill.

Olney's less than 200 votes down. He's not going anywhere soon.

"I knew it was going to be a long night," he says.

Vote tallies should be updated soon.

Walden's opponent a no-show

No one expected Noah Lemas to defeat Greg Walden in the race for the 2nd District congressional seat, but most thought he would at least make an effort. He didn't, and Walden has 73 percent of the vote at this point.

Lemas may have come to Medford during the campaign, but we've never talked to anyone who actually saw him.

Walden said he first thought his opponent would be a young woman from Christmas Valley, but it turned out she was actually too young to run for Congress. Walden said that he had visited Christmas Valley for the first time only a few weeks before she announce she was going to run against him.

He must have said something to set her off. But, then, in the 2nd District, there's not danger that any candidate will beat the incumbent Republican. It's even tougher if they're from Christmas Valley or if they make no effort whatsoever.

OBAMA BRINGS CANDY WILLIAMS HOPE

Candy Williams stood in the back of the Ashland Armory, her hands against her red-white-and-blue sweater and wept as Obama talked about moving America forward.

"This is the first time in a long time I've broken out this sweater," says Williams, of Ashland. "For me, this is the first time in a long time that I feel like I'm proud to be an American."

Yes, she says, Obama seemed to talk right from the Chicago stage to her here in Ashland.

"I think everybody feels that," Williams says. "Just look at the faces of everybody in the crowd.

"This is history," Williams says.

She dabbed away another tear.

"The last one who did anything for me was Kennedy," she says.

But Obama's no Kennedy, Williams says.

"He was really something special," she says.

OBAMA CONTINUED

At the Blue Bash, the Democrats are looking as if they feel Obama speaking directly to them through the big screen.

Very little clapping or talking. They are soaking in Obama's talk of tough work to come. No one's left the house.

He's talking foreign policy and the crowd perks up.

Obama speaks, but will anyone hear?

The room is rapidly emptying out, even as Barack Obama gives his acceptance speech.

"I can't even stand to listen to him speak," says one woman on her way out the door.

A lot of small groups chatting, maybe 20 of the 100 or so people in the room listening to Obama.

OBAMA ACCEPTANCE A HIT

Obama's "Real Change" line is a big hit at the Blue Bash.

It's like the crowd is almost in denial that their man won the presidency.

But the "new puppy that's coming with us to the White House" line perks them up.

BUCKLEY ON CRUISE CONTROL

Mail Tribune results show State Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, up 2-to-1 on Independent Pete BelCastro.

But Buckley won't say he's cruising to an easy victory.

"You never coast," Buckley says. "It's always a hard slog to get through a campaign and reach the finish line."

Still, he's talking like a guy who's ready to claim victory.

"I have to commend Pete BelCastro," Buckley says. "He ran a good, issue-based campaign -- just like it should be."

YEAH, BUT WHAT ABOUT OLNEY?

Early returns show Jim Olney and C.W. Smith in a virtual dead heat for Smith's seat on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners, but he doesn't know it.

Everyone's still talking Obama. The TVs are all Obama. No one wants to step out of that warm bath of the McCain concession to talk local.

I tapped Olney on the shoulder and showed him what's on the MT web site.

Smith: 50.28 percent.
Olney: 49.54 percent.

"Wow," Olney says. "That's huge."

Huge, he says, as in a newbie to politics finding himself tied with a guy who's been elected to various seats 12 times.

"That's promising," Olney says. "I knew it would be close, but I didn't know how close it would be."

That calm look of 6:30 p.m. on Olney's face? Gone.

Local candidates speak

A few comments from local candidates:

-- State Sen. Jason Atkinson told Congressman Walden that he was changing one political promise he made earlier. He said he told Walden that he "would take a bullet for you." Now, he says, he's decided that's not such a good idea. Atkinson is still recovering from an accidental shooting that occurred this summer, when he was shot in his leg.

-- State Rep. Dennis Richardson of Central Point: "America will wake up and find there's an idea of redistributing wealth and that government can take care of you cradle to grave. That's not an American principle. ... We must remind Democrats that we must have a government that is sustainable."

-- State Rep. Sal Esquivel of Medford: Democrats philosophy is to "build government, spend more money and tax you." He said the pendulum will swing again to the Republican side.

-- C.W. Smith: "Jackson County is financially solvent ... one of the most solvent counties in the state of Oregon. ... I'm very proud of that. ... That's an example that we can set for others who run for office, to run government that stays within its budget."

Walden wins -- and speaks

Greg Walden is projected to retain his 2nd Congressional District seat and he's in Medford to give his acceptance speech. Some of his comments:

"We are part of the greatest experiment in governance that the world has ever seen ... We are Americans and our best and brightest days are ahead of us."

Walden called for several initiatives:

-- balance the budget without raising taxes
-- modernize the health care system using market forces
-- reform how our national forests are managed
-- develop an energy policy that lets the U.S. use its resources, especially its "great oil reserves."

Victory at the Jackson County Democratic party in Medford

Deafening screams of delight erupted through the Redrock bar in Medford as NBC broadcast that Barack Obama had won 284 electoral votes, securing his place as the first African-American president and marking the end of the Bush Administration.
Medford resident Vicki Mansfield fell to pieces. "Oh my god," she screamed. Tears were streaming down her face. She threw her arms around each person standing next to her. Her body was trembling as she gushed her relief and joy.
"He is really here!" she cried. "It's been such a long wait. It's absolutely amazing. This is history, huge history in the making. Oh my god."

McCain draws a crowd

John McCain's concession speech drew the attention of the 200 or so people gathered here. When he said he had called Barack Obama to congratulate him, a cry of "No!" came from the front of the room and a few scattered boos were heard.

Applause from the room later joined that audible on the TV for McCain's comments. Another big hand when McCain thanked Gov. Sarah Palin.

Some local results coming in by cell phone. Medford City Council member Chris Corcoran says he was told he was leading incumbent John Statler, about 1,600 to 900.

C.W. Smith says he was told he's leading, but a close race -- he's ahead by 300 votes or so.

MCCAIN CONCESSION SPEECH

It's a quiet and respectful crowd at the Blue Bash watching McCain deliver the speech he never wanted to see.

Many heads are shaking in agreement with McCain when saying it's time to put away differences from the campaign and put America's collective needs first.

Even some clapping here.

But the local Dems saved a few boos for Sarah Palin.

Where are the local results?

Jackson County Commissioner C.W. Smith came by my table when he saw I had a computer -- he's looking for results on his race with Jim Olney. But no results are available and all the TVs in the room are set on the national race. Nothing available on Web sites yet.

MT Web site still has Smith and Olney at 0.00%. "So we're tied," Smith observed.

Usually some results are available by this time. Hopefully the wait won't be much longer.

MERKLEY v. SMITH

The first local results are shown on the big screen and you'd think a rock star just walked into the room.

Jeff Merkley, 67 percent.
Gordon Smith, 29 percent.

The roar rivaled the one for Obama.

So far, the Dems here are pitching a shutout.

It's early, but State Rep. Peter Buckley, D-Ashland, can't believe that Merkley, a colleague in the Oregon Legislature, would be sticking it to the incumbant Smith.

"If you would have told me nine months ago that my friend Jeff Merkley would win?" Buckley says. "No way."

A little cat-calling as channel 12 interviews state Rep. Dennis Richardson, R-Medford, on the big screen. But for the most part, they're still doing snow angels here on the Armory floor.

Glum faces

A lot of glum faces around the room as Fox News projects Barack Obama as the next president of the United States.

"That's scary," says an elderly man in a dark jacket, to no one in particular.

More people are looking at the TV screens, and it's grown a bit quieter.

TEARS OF ELATION

Pat Smith and Jennie Watt of Ashland are standing in the rear of the Armory, sharing a teary embrace.

"It's fantastic, really fantastic," Smith says. "Finally, some healing and hope in this country."

Watt believes she just heard the world collectively sigh.

"The rest of the world is going to be happy, not just us," Watt says.

OBAMA

Eruption as the networks call it for Obama.

Everyone's on their feet, screaming and stamping their feet.

MSNBC puts Obama's picture on the screen and everyone's going nuts, pumping their fists and toasting their party's win.

8 P.M. EXPLOSION

State Rep. Peter Buckley is about to burst with excitement.

Everyone at the Blue Bash is ready for the networks to call the election for Obama any minute now, with West Coast polls about to close.

"I think they'll call it right away," says Buckley, an Ashland Democrat. "When you add California and Oregon, it's done. Obama's got the vote."

Virginia falls

While Jackson County Party Chairman Bryan Platt was recognizing a variety of volunteers who assisted with the campaign, Fox News flashed an alert, projecting that Obama would win Virginia. Nobody really seemed to notice.

Rooting for her boss

Esther Kennedy has a lot of reasons to root for Sen. Gordon Smith to maintain his Oregon seat in Congress -- among other things, she works for him in his Medford office.

But beyond that, she says, he is a nice guy who is loved by his employees. "I've worked for more than 50 years and he's the nicest person I ever worked for," she says. She also noted that the majority of Oregon staff members in regional offices have worked for Smith for the entire 12 years he's been in office.

Esther and her husband Ernest (now-deceased) were longtime friends with former Congressman Bob Smith and Esther worked in his office for about 10 years, managing four of his six election campaigns.

She says Sen. Smith's staff is "concerned, but optimistic" about the outcome of today's race.

ALL WINE, NO WHINE

Bit of a wine crisis at the Blue Bash.

Caterers quickly sold out their supply of Cliff Creek Claret from the Sams Valley Vineyard. Definitely should have brought more than two cases.

But there's still some blended red wine from Cowhorn Vineyard in the Applegate Valley.

Those are by the bottle, which is the preferred purchase so far.

By the glass there are Barefoot chardonnay from Modesto, Calif., and a Banrock Station shiraz from Australia.

We'll do the brews later.

The youth vote

The youth turnout is largely attributed to the Obama draw, but Robert Burton, an 18-year-old senior at South Meford High School, is a McCain man all the way. He walked into the Republican headquarters a couple of weeks ago and volunteered to help out anyway he could. They put him to work on the phone, reminding voters to get their ballots turned in.

Robert says his political interest doesn't come from his family: "They don't even really know the difference between a Republican and a Democrat or a conservative and a liberal," he says of his family.

Robert says there's not a lot of interest among students at his school and he doubts that half of the eligible voters there would bother to vote. But he's gung-ho about his first vote and the chance to participate in the election.

"I think it's important to get people to vote and the youth vote is really important. I just wanted to be part of this."

Robert is worried about the presidential race -- looking at the nearby TV, he does a quick calculation and says Obama's projected 207 electoral votes so far would put him over the top -- since California and the West Coast states are a given for Obama.

"I'm a little nervous right now," he says.

BLUE VITTLES

Here's the buffet menu for the about 400 Dems at the Ashland Armory:

Penne with garlic-roasted carrots, chive oil, spinach and parmigianino;

Zinfandel-braised tri-tip with sage-roasted mushrooms;

Smoked tomato polenta and vegetable ragout;

Fricasee of chicken with baby potatoes, caramelized onions and roasted red peppers;

Salad of spinach and romaine with artichoke vinaigrette and thyme croutons.

And for dessert...
Marionberry rosemary caramel tarts and chocolate hazelnut bars.

So far, no one's chewed themselves into a food coma, but the night's early.

Red hat, red coat -- red state?

Jo Morrow doesn't want to hear any doom and gloom. Dressed in a red cowboy hat and a red outfit, she's exhorting the troops. "It's only 12 percent of the vote and they're already calling some states -- with only 12 percent! Forget it."

Morrow, who lives on Ramsey Road in north Jackson County, says she saw a hopeful sign this morning -- an online poll on the Regis Philbin show that showed John McCain winning 54-46 over Barack Obama.

Morrow's also mad about ballot measures that confuse voters. "Do you think they understand that for Measure 61 to pass, it has to get more votes than Measure 57?" she asked. "No, they don't and that just makes me mad."

She ran for the ESD board years ago (unsuccessfully) and says that the way things are going, she may just run for office again.

JOE CHARTER, SELF-STARTER

Joe Charter is looking to move up from his Jackson County Justice Court seat to the big-house in the Jackson County Circuit Court, where he lost a similar bid six years ago.
He doesn't much like the process of electing judges, particularly since all the campaigning is on his own time and dime. Besides, Charter says, most people don't bother to vote for judges anyway.
But he's still chucking that hat in the ring for one reason.
"I love what I do," he says while in line for dinner at the Democrats' party in the Ashland Armory. "I love talking to people, helping them through the maze."
He's looking pretty calm, and feeling lucky. Not that he's sure he'll beat Lisa Greif for the new robe.
"I feel very blessed," Charter says. "Win or lose, I still have my day job. So it's all good."

Everybody loves a show

Bryan Platt, GOP chairman for Jackson County, looks around the room and likes what he sees -- a good crowd. Not raucous by any stretch of the imagination, but also not down in the mouth. News of Ohio projection for Obama didn't make a ripple.

It's easy to get too focused on the national race, Platt says, while there are a lot of important state races that will affect the makeup of the Legislature -- and, of course, the U.S. Senate seat race between Gordon Smith and Jeff Merkley.

Congressman Greg Walden is scheduled to speak at about 8, followed by other local candidates.

OLNEY ON CANDIDACY: GOTTA TRY

The tall guy standing in back of the Ashland Armory with the I'm-so-glad-the-campaigning-is-over look on his face is Jim Olney. He's the Democrats' candidate facing C.W. Smith's for Smith's seat on the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.
He's a first-time candidate and believe it or not, he's not nervous.
"I'm way over that hump now," he says.
No predictions here, either.
He's considered an underdog against the popular incumbant. Olney says he's pleased he spent nine months knocking on doors and talking to thousands of Jackson County residents about what they want and need in their civic leaders.
"Win or lose, I'm glad I did it," Olney says. "It's something you have to do once in your life."

West Coast wondering

So will there be any excitement left by the time the polls close on the West Coast? Michael Torguson, an RCC political instructor and former candidate for Medford City Council, says there's a lot to watch beyond Obama-McCain.

California, Oregon and Washington have been blue on most maps for weeks, maybe months, so McCain's hopes lie east of here. But voters should have plenty to keep them in line (not in Oregon of course, where voting lines are so yesterday), including a slew of ballot measures in California and Oregon, a close Senate race in Oregon and a governor's race in Washington.

When Ronald Reagan swept to victory in the 1980s, the networks called the race early and voters on the West Coast stayed home. The Democrats said that cost them dearly and exacted promises from the networks to stop the early predictions. The Web has made those promises irrelevant.

In Oregon, you still have 85 minutes to vote.

DEMS' ROLLING, EATING

They switched the big screens to MSNBC at the Ashland Armory. This is no Fox-News crowd, for sure.
Huge cheer and even some leaping to their feet as MSNBC calls Ohio for Obama, giving him 195 electral votes, needing 270 to set history.

Here's the Democrat's appetizer spread:
Chive-roasted wild salmon and artichoke fondu with torn bread;
Basil, safron and red pepper terrine of chicken with rosemary toasted pitas;
Roast autumn vegetable salad in filo cups
Roast olive cheese torte with crackers.

Word from the Armory

Democrats are settling in with drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the Old Ashland Armory, but the electricity in the air’s enough to give Bonneville a power surge.
Happy faces abound. And Wolf Blizter’s giving them plenty of reasons to smile. They’re watching CNN on two giant screens, cheering virtually every cutaway showing a blue state.

Battle for the Senate

Former Congressman Bob Smith is here and says the best the GOP likely can hope for this evening is to hold off the Democrats' push for 60 seats in the Senate. That's one battle that at least is on even ground at this point, although several seats have already changed hands.

That means that Gordon Smith's fight to hold his seat will be part of the national scene, even if the presidential race is over by then.

Aside from that, Smith doesn't hold out much hope for the evening.

"I think it's going to be a sad night," Smith said.

There's one thing Smith said the Republicans have going for them long term -- whoever wins this election is going to have a very tough job on his hands.

Up and running

I'm here at the Red Lion with the Republican Party faithful, the computer is working and I have a connection. Life is good -- although the assembled GOP folks are not so sure about that just yet. It's quiet in the room, with about 50 people here, but things are just getting rolling. TVs in every corner, all tuned to Fox News. Dems are up three seats in the Senate nationwide, but miles to go before we sleep. I'll work the room and be back shortly.

Ready for action

This is Bob Hunter, editor of the Mail Tribune. I'll be spending the evening at the Republican gathering, passing along observations from the event at the Red Lion in downtown Medford and getting reactions from the folks assembled there.

The world is focused on Obama-McCain, but there are a lot of other elected positions and measures at stake this evening and I'll focus on those as much as on the presidential goings-on.

If you've got questions, post them here and I'll do my best to answer them. Check in at about 6 p.m. for the first post.

Hi.
This is Mark Freeman, a staff writer for the Mail Tribune. I'll be hanging out at the Democratic election party tonight at the Ashland Armory, writing a blog about anything and everything happening around me.
We'll talk about the mood, who's doing what and even run down some of the local candidates to see what it's like for them sweating through the returns.
I'll try to answer as many of your questions as possible and give you a in-the-crowd feel for what's happening tonight.
See you around 6 p.m.

It's Election Day

Welcome to the Mail Tribune's election-night notebook. Check back here tonight for updates from our staff stationed at Democratic and Republican gatherings in Jackson County. We expect to begin posting at about 6 p.m. After 8 p.m., you also can see the latest election results at www.mailtribune.com/2008results.