Local residents react to Obama win

Mike Cast and Jenna Cederberg

The news of the historic presidential race, in which the first black man became president-elect of the US, resonated throughout Lake County late Tuesday night, as the words of Barack Obama came loud and clear through the TVs in the basement of the Kwa Taq Nuk Resort, bringing tears to the eyes of volunteers who had worked so hard to elect him.

"We cried, it was very emotional," Obama campaign volunteer and Salish Kootenai College student JD Nichols said. "Everybody in the campaign put so much effort into it."

Nichols and other Obama supporters gathered at the resort to reflect on what the election results would mean for America, and for the Native Americans who put together volunteer corps like the one in the Mission Valley.

"Obama focuses on the United State's problems, not the world's problems," Nichols said.

Nichols said he believes that Obama will keep his promise to work across party lines to improve the nation.

Matt Slonaker, a volunteer for the Barack Obama For Change campaign in Montana, said the crew at the Lake County headquarters was speechless at the national and local success of its party.

"Words can not explain it, especially since it's very probable Lake County was behind Obama," Slonaker said.

He said his campaign had the opportunity to prove their commitment to the undecided voters.

"We were out there in the field, in the rain, snow and sleet and knocking on doors," he said of the efforts they made on election day.

Slonaker said that the organization and use of the community the Obama campaign strategists used is the type of system he believes the new president will continue to utilize. For the campaigners, they see the election as a step toward their vision, a battle won but a war not over.

"We're ready for the challenge, we're ready to unite behind our leader. We've got a lot of major things to change in this country," Slonaker said.

The local commitment to the Obama campaign hit Slonaker the hardest. He said his 14-year-old nephew from St. Ignatius had been calling him all day for information, not about the voting results for the electoral college or for the state of Montana, but for Lake County.

Get Out the Vote volunteer Willie Andrew had been up since 4 a.m. on Tuesday setting schedules for volunteers and planning the routes he would take to ensure every vote possible was cast for Obama. He spent the day driving a voting shuttle around the area, and arrived at the Lake County Election office with his final recruit - a Polson resident who had never voted before - at 7:58 p.m.

"At the time (Get Out the Vote area coordinator) Jason (Smith) and I were feeling like we weren't doing enough, so I called one last time," Andrew said.

Andrew said his recruit cast the final vote of the night for Polson.

Other volunteers confirmed, as of midnight on Tuesday, that Montana, a traditionally "red" state, had given its three electoral votes to Obama.

"i don't think Democrats have ever won Lake County," Nichols said.

Jill Lombardi, Obama campaign field organizer for Lake County, was key to organizing and mobilizing the groups' efforts, both Nichols and Andrew said.

"They threw her in at the deep end of the pool and she learned how to swim," Nichols said.

Lombardi is originally from Helena, and was based in Lake County during the campaign season.

As the party wound down, Slonaker again remembered the moment of triumph, when Obama began to speak to his people in Chicago, accepting his upcoming role as the first black President of the United States of America.

Slonaker said that in the midst of celebration, the crowd quieted and listened.

"When Obama spoke we were captivated. It was a great speech to lead this new era," Slonaker said.