The party that was over before it started: Republicans ate, drank but were not merry

New Mexico Republican Party election night event

The first rule of any veteran election-night party-goer is this: Don’t show up on time. At 7 p.m., the bar may be open and the buffet full-up, but the real fun won’t start until results start pouring in.

For Republicans on Tuesday, the sentiment seemed to be don’t show up at all.

At 8 p.m., an hour into their party at the Uptown Marriott, about 300 people milled around a large ballroom with plenty of space to stretch their legs. By 10 p.m., when Barack Obama delivered his victory speech, fewer than 100 remained, and no one cared to listen to him. The volume on the array of big-screen TVs was turned off.

In between, the party-loyal sampled chicken taquitos and endured no waiting at all at the cash-only bars set up around the hall.

“The sales aren’t as good as usual,” one bartender said. “But we didn’t know what to expect.”

State Party Chairman Allen Weh

State Party Chairman Allen Weh knew what to expect, declaring Obama the victor shortly after 8.

“We fully expect to see some change,” he said, adding: “We might not like everything we see.”

Still, he said, the party was a chance for people who’ve worked long and hard for various candidates to gather one last time.

“The people who work their hearts out, they believe in a guy and what he stands for,” he said. “They want that kind of government.”

State Rep. Kathy McCoy, an East Mountain Republican, said the event proved that “hope springs eternal.

“It’s just that you know the pendulum’s going to swing back,” she said. “We just hope that the country — I’m sort of speechless — I don’t think people truly understand what went on here. It’s way too emotional.

“I’m a fiscal conservative, and I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this,” she said, referring to the nation’s financial crisis.

Dauneen Dolce, a longtime pro-life activist, declared that anyone could be the winner.

“The fat lady hasn’t sung, and that’s me,” she said.

Statehouse candidate Paula Papponi

In a private room near the main hall, statehouse candidate Paula Papponi offered her supporters a far more refined buffet of seared salmon, roasted New York strip steaks and tiramisu.

“I have had the most wonderful people working for me,” she said. “We’ve spent close to a year campaigning, from the time I said `yes,’ obtaining signatures, raising money, going door to door, finding volunteers. It’s very hard work, and it would not have been possible without the volunteers.”

Papponi spent the evening running neck-and-neck with Democrat Jack Thomas to succeed Rio Rancho state Rep. Tom Swisstack. She left the party around 10, thinking she’d secured victory, but the numbers continued to bobble around.

U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici

The biggest applause of the evening went to retiring U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, who gave a few TV interviews before taking the stage in front of a banner reading “Country First.”

“I have been through many nights when we had many victories and lots of cheers because we won a lot of races,” he told the crowd. “I’ve been here many nights when we didn’t win any.

“This has been a tough year for our candidates. I don’t think it was our candidates that lost these races.”

Domenici cited the worsening economy of the last month and was the only politician of the night to mention the war in Iraq as a possible cause.

“I say to all of you, just remember, when you’re down and out, it just takes a little time, and you’ll be back up and you’ll be back out,” he said.

Domenici won loud applause when speaking about the degenerative brain disease that prompted him to resign after 36 years in the Senate.

“My serious illness has sort of abated and is running stagnant,” he said. “I’m thrilled about that as is my family and my wife.”

Generation Joshua member Jessie Stauf

Upon his exit, the TVs were turned up for McCain’s concession speech in a suddenly quiet hall. Looking on were home-school students from California and Texas who participate in a faith-based program called Generation Joshua. One of them, 15-year-old Jessie Stauf of Mohave Desert, Calif., sported a baseball cap that read “Sarahcuda,” in reference to the “Barracuda” nickname of GOP vice presidential candidate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Stauf had been working for McCain in Roswell since Thursday.

Jeremy Smith, one of the leaders of the group, said: “The way I see it, the Democrats are just (creating) the work for our next generation to do.”

After McCain’s speech, the concessions rolled in:

U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce

U.S. Senate candidate Steve Pearce; 1st Congressional District candidate Darren White; 3rd Congressional District candidate Dan East.

Dan East

The Marriott crew cleans up

And then the crowd dwindled. The buffets were mostly picked over. Some of the bar areas closed up.

Darren White

The TV stations finished their 10 p.m. newscasts and packed up.

Bernalillo County District Attorney candidate Lisa Torraco, still waiting to see at least 50 percent of the votes counted, walked into the hall and said, “Everyone’s left.”

White, who drew a solitary cackle when he asked the crowd to support Democrat Martin Heinrich as their next congressman, sounded a conciliatory note that was rare for the evening.

“These are hard-core supporters and they’re disappointed,” he said. “It’s hard tonight. But I hope they hear that from me and know. It’s over. He’s going to be a congressman, and we need to support him.”

In the half-empty parking lot, a McCain-Palin bus remained. The door was open, but the lights were off.