Backers Brighten as Night Falls

Under the massive, arched atrium of the Ronald Reagan Building, the anxiety was palpable Tuesday night as several hundred Bush supporters gathered to await the verdict of the nation’s voters.

“Everyone is nervous,” said Michael Franc, a former Republican congressional aide who works for the conservative Heritage Foundation.

“They’re planning on being up late,” he said. “They brought their change of clothes. They’ve got their contact solution. They’re not going to be going home early tonight.”

And indeed, as the night wore on, the crowd’s emotions surged in time with the shifting returns.

As a succession of country bands paid homage to God, country and George W. Bush, outsize television monitors displayed the latest election results.

At first, they were agonizingly ambiguous for many in attendance.

“I’m worried,” said Dan Cuomo, a 28-year-old independent defense contractor from Sterling, Va. “Kerry scares me. I just can’t be confident in what he’d do and where he’d lead the country.”

About 8:30, as things were looking a bit better for the GOP, the president sent Commerce Secretary Don Evans to the Reagan Building to give the milling crowd a pep talk.

“I just came from the White House. I met with the president,” said Evans, a fellow Texan who is one of Bush’s most trusted advisors. “He wanted me to come by and say thank you. He’s upbeat. He’s optimistic. He’s confident.”

That was enough to elicit a chorus of cheers from the faithful.

Later, as polling results showed Bush’s lead solidifying in some key states, genuine excitement seemed to replace initial displays of forced enthusiasm.

“I’m feeling good,” said Colin Ligon of Fairfax, Va., who was slow dancing with his wife, Wendy, to a country tune called “I Cherish You.” “After what happened in 2000, I’m not going to predict victory yet,” Ligon said. “But I’ve got a good feeling.”

Sean Mandell was feeling the buzz too.

“I love it,” said Mandell, an 18-year-old freshman political science major at George Washington University. He went to the watch party after spending two long days calling Bush supporters in Nevada and Oregon to urge them to vote.

“I haven’t been focusing on school too much lately, I’m not going to lie to you,” said Mandell, who moved to Washington in August from his family’s home in Laguna Hills. “This is one of the reasons I came to D.C. I knew if I went to USC, I wouldn’t get this kind of experience, 24/7.”

At 10:45, the crowd roared its approval when the TV screen displayed Bush and his family monitoring the election results at the White House, a couple of blocks away.

Later, more cheers erupted when Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced that Arizona, one of the states considered up for grabs by both sides, had fallen into the president’s column.

As for the president himself, the day had begun at 7:37 a.m. at the Crawford, Texas, Volunteer Fire Department, where he and First Lady Laura Bush, with daughters Barbara and Jenna, cast their ballots.

Before returning to Washington, Bush made a final campaign stop in Columbus, Ohio. “Thank you all for doing this,” he told workers in his state campaign headquarters, where he took part in the phone bank operation.

“Julie, this is President Bush calling,” he said to one dubious voter over the phone. “How are you? No, I promise you, it’s me.”

After apparently securing a commitment to vote, he turned to reporters and proclaimed: “One to nothing.”

Early today, Ron Jerro, a 68-year-old insurance agent from Great Falls, Va., was breathing easier. Bush’s lead appeared to be widening nationwide, and Florida, the biggest swing state of them all, was tipping toward the president.

“I was nervous all day,” Jerro said. “But it looks great now. I’m 90% confident at this point we’re going to win. We got Florida.”

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Times staff writer Richard Simon in Waukesha, Wis., contributed to this report.