Democrats, Republicans gather on Strip to support candidates

By Erin Dostal, Kyle B. Hansen

Published Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 | 8:22 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010 | 11:44 p.m.

Democrats broke out into cheers of "Harry! Harry! Harry!" as media outlets called the Nevada Senate race for incumbent Harry Reid, while Republicans reacted with a sudden, quiet gasp.

Party supporters gathered on opposite sides of the Strip on Tuesday to watch the election results — Democrats at the Aria with TVs tuned to MSNBC and Republicans at the Venetian watching Fox News.

At the Aria, as CNN and MSNBC both announced Reid the winner, "Love Story" by Taylor Swift blared on the loud speaker. Reporters from across the country and around the world were at the convention center to see if Reid would keep the seat he has held since 1986 in a race with Tea Party favorite Angle.

While they waited for returns, they munched on fruit plates and cheese, and the room was abuzz with chatter. And then the results started to come in.

Cheers erupted when returns popped up on the screen showing Harry Reid leading Angle early in the Senate race.

Reid later took the stage at Aria to accept another six years in the U.S. Senate. In doing so, he evoked many of the same images and words of Barack Obama's 2008 presidential acceptance speech in Chicago — including his humble beginnings and choosing "hope over fear."

"If a poor kid from Searchlight can make it, anybody can make it," he said. "Everyone in Nevada deserves a chance."

"Yes we did," the usually soft-spoken Reid said with a broad smile on his face.

Reid said this year's election was one of his toughest fights. But, he said, his success is proof that difficult is not synonymous with impossible.

"Today we chose hope over fear, to move forward, not backward," he said. Reid said he is even more motivated now, after the tough election season, to work to bring jobs and growth to Nevada.

Reid thanked his wife, who he called his best friend, his family, volunteers and voters for their support. Then, with a pop, cannons of shiny blue and silver confetti rained down from the ceiling.

"This is not the end of the fight. This is the start of the next round," Reid said. "I know what it's like to have the odds stacked against you...I know what it's like to be punched."

But, he said, he also knows what it's like to get back on your feet — an opportunity he says he'll deliver to all Nevadans during his next term.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley gave a spirited acceptance speech at about 9 p.m. to a gathering a couple thousand supporters. She defeated Republican challenger Kenneth Wegner.

"When I was a kid, I wanted to serve my fellow man," she said. "I wanted to do public service and do good deeds."

"And you do!" shouted a couple of supporters.

Berkley gave a shout-out to her friend and 3rd Congressional District incumbent Dina Titus, who was involved in a close race with Republican hopeful Joe Heck.

"I might be your favorite congresswoman," she said. "But Dina Titus is my favorite congresswoman."

Berkley also recognized the man of the evening: Sen. Harry Reid. The backdrop of the stage she was standing on read: "Senator Harry Reid" in large block letters.

At the mention of Reid's name, the room erupted into cheers of "Harry! Harry! Harry!" Which Berkley repeated from her perch on the podium.

"That's enough," she said, laughing. "This is my time."

The room then started shouting "Shelley! Shelley! Shelley!"

Berkley walked off the stage to the song "You're Still the One" by the Orleans.

Wegner, speaking at the Republican party, said he ran a "clean and fair campaign and maybe I didn't attack my opponent as much as I should have."

He spent half of his two-minute speech blaming the media for the lack of attention his campaign received, then, almost as an afterthought — "I almost forgot," he said — he conceded to Berkley.

"Congratulations to Congresswoman Berkley. I hope you do what's right for the American people and stop running all over the world and come back and do what's right for us here."

At the Venetian, Republicans mingled, listened to a band and watched Fox News on a large screen. A mild cheer erupted every time the Fox announcers declared a Republican victory, but there was only weak applause when John McCain's Arizona Senate victory was announced.

Loud cheers broke out when the governors race was called in favor of Republican Brian Sandoval over Democrat Rory Reid.

After speaking at his own celebration at Red Rock, Sandoval briefly spoke to the 200 or so people still at the state Republican event at the Venetian.

The governor-elect repeated many of the themes from his early speech, saying Nevadans need to work together to address the state's problems.

He congratulated Rory Reid, who ran a "very aggressive race, a classy race," he said.

He also praised Sharron Angle.

"I've never seen a candidate work so hard. I'm so proud of her," he said.

Rory Reid gave his concession speech for governor at about 10 p.m., but not before a train of supporters holding Rory Reid 2010 chanted his name and marched to the front of the room.

On stage, Reid announced that he had just called Sandoval to congratulate him on his victory.

"My campaign for governor ends tonight," he said. "But my commitment to Nevada doesn't end tonight."

"Our state needs to band together," he said, adding that his supporters should give Sandoval respect as their new governor.

Reid made no mention of his father's campaign.

Republican Karan Tracy has been active in the Angle campaign. "We were just so tired of what was going on, we had to get involved. It was a calling," she said.

Tracy said she was at the Venetian to be part of a victory celebration. "It is so exciting. We're feeling positive tonight," she said.

Kayla Geraci, a member of the UNLV Republican Club, recently turned 18 and voted for the first time Tuesday.

"I just came to show support," she said. "It's a good experience to be here. This is one of the bigger elections, so to be here and be part of it is pretty cool."

Secretary of State Ross Miller, a Democrat, delivered his acceptance speech shortly before 9:30 p.m. The crowd cheered, but continued to mill about and chat during much of his speech.

In his speech, Miller, who defeated challenger Rob Lauer, said it looked like a good night for Democratic candidates.

"I know what you're all thinking: Why don't you get off the stage and count some votes?" he jokingly said. "We're not paying you to jib-jab."

Miller said he would not tolerate any fraud at polling places but he wouldn't tolerate people who wanted to interfere with voters by scaring them with underhanded tactics.