Contributed Photo by Roy Musitelli Tully Strong, above, leads the charge among the Coos County Democrats to celebrate when it was announced Barack Obama had won Tuesday’s presidential election.

NORTH BEND — Nearly an hour before John McCain conceded the election, before Barack Obama won the day, dozens of people waited in nervous anticipation at the Pony Village Mall.

Inside a storefront converted into the Coos County Democratic Headquarters, they stood watching CNN, chatting, drinking wine and nibbling snacks. They talked about Obama’s chance for the presidential seat and future of the country.

And then the room exploded with sound and activity.

Broadcasters announced Obama had won Virginia. Shortly after, he succeeded in earning the majority of the electoral vote. People danced, cried, clapped, made speeches and embraced each other, thankful the Republican candidate did not prevail.

Among them, Tully Strong, a gray-haired Canadian dressed in a  tie-dye shirt emblazoned with Obama’s image, socks to match and a hat covered in Obama buttons, jumped up from her seat. She gyrated to the joyful sounds in the room.

Strong, who is a citizen of Canada, said she volunteered for the campaign, and is so pleased with the results that she plans to apply for U.S. citizenship.

“I worked for him in this one and I’ll vote for him in the next one, you betcha,” said the 63-year-old. “I’ve lived in the United States since I was a child and I’ve never been that interested in politics, and just seeing what has happened with our country and seeing a light like Obama that will bring people together and make the world a better place — I had to be involved in that.”

She said she wasn’t terribly surprised Obama won, although her hopes wavered as the election neared.

“I got scared because I was listening to so much on the news ... we just had to work and get this man elected,” Strong said. “It’s not that he walks on water. It’s not that. He has the intelligence and the ability to bring people together. He’s not just our president, he’s a global citizen and we need that in a global world.”

Prior to the announcement, North Bend School Board member Karen Helland said she believed Obama would bring needed change to the country. She added that she doesn’t typically attend election watches like the one held Tuesday night. Coos Bay Democrats Sen. Joanne Verger and Rep. Arnie Roblan also appeared at the celebration.

“I’m here because I have more hope for our future than I’ve ever had,” Helland said. “I think it’s different this time. An African American president is life changing for this country. It gives children hope who never had hope before.”

She said she believes Obama will be a proponent for education, which is especially important as the United States is falling behind in math and science.

“Our government can do positive things for people in this country and we need someone who is bright, who can pull the best and the brightest and move our country forward,” Helland said.

The Republican Headquar-ters, also at the shopping center, was not nearly as lively. By 8:30 p.m., the group of about 40 people slimmed down to a handful of volunteers, a few disheartened community members and Coos County Sheriff Andy Jackson.

Tom Muscus, the manager of the headquarters and treasurer of the Coos County Republican Central Committee, was sad and worried about the outcome.

“I feel that too many people listened to a smooth speech with not a lot of substance to it,” Muscus said.

 “He gave a great speech. He has a lot of charisma. I can understand why a lot of people would choose to follow that.”

He still believes Obama lacks experience.

“I think this is the wrong position for on-the-job training,” Muscus said. “I just hope and pray that we will not regret what we did.”

Volunteer and Coos Bay resident Larry West, 61, blamed McCain’s loss on Obama’s campaign budget, as well as what he described as the media’s uneven focus on the Republican candidate.

“It’s just a lesson in life — money buys everything,” West said.

Jackson, who kept an eye on election results via a laptop computer, said he came to the local GOP election watch to provide support.

“I’m quite naturally disappointed,” he said. “I really thought the race would be a lot closer than it was.”

Perhaps the most emotional of the Democrats at Democratic headquarters was Curtis Haley, a field organizer for the Obama campaign.

“It doesn’t seem real to me yet that it happened. I’m just going to sit back and say the words President Barack Obama and say it for four years,” Haley told other Democrats.

“Eight! Eight,” the crowd shouted in reply.