By Mikel Livingston
Assistant Campus Editor
Publication Date: 11/05/08
Members of the College Republicans gathered Tuesday night to witness the state of Indiana go blue for the first time in more than 40 years.
At about 9 p.m., Dirk Schmidt, a sophomore in the College of Engineering and communication director for the College Republicans, still had hope that, come 2009, a Republican would remain in the White House.
As the electoral vote count stood at 199 to 124 in Sen. Barack Obama’s favor, Schmidt leaned over and told his friend, “Never give up, never surrender.”
“It’s not over ’til it’s over,” Schmidt said. “And I don’t give up easily. That’s why at Purdue football games, I don’t leave.”
But as the night continued, and Obama’s electoral lead strengthened, it became more apparent the presidential race was over for Sen. John McCain.
“McCain is the only candidate who fought for us,” said Tiffany Watrous, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts who watched the electoral results trickle in from Room 210 of Matthews Hall. “I think that is a great testament to his character.”
Then came the revelation: Indiana had voted Democrat for the first time since 1964.
“It’s disappointing,” said Jay Wood, a sophomore in the College of Liberal Arts. “Indiana has always been a Republican safehaven. The knowledge that it may be changing is concerning.”
Wood, a political science major, said McCain should have spent more time campaigning in Indiana.
“I do think he took it for granted,” Wood said. “I think Obama spent a lot of money here although I don’t think he expected to win here.”
But despite the presidential defeat, Wood said Indiana Republicans still have a reason for hope.
“A Republican has won seven of the last 10 elections. So I think the nation still leans a little bit to the right,” Wood said. “We’ve still got Mitch Daniels and with a possible majority in the state house, I think we’re going to be OK.”