GOP supporters hope for Bush victory
By Daily Bruin Staff
Nov. 7, 2000 9:00 p.m.
 DAVE HILL/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Natacha
Assouad (right) patiently watches a big screen TV in the
LAX Marriot Hotel last night at the California Republican victory
celebration.
By Dharshani Dharmawardena and Linh
Tat
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
When results from Florida first came in at 11:20 p.m. Tuesday,
Republicans at the Marriott Hotel near the Los Angeles Airport
broke out into wild pandemonium and chanted “No more
Gore!”
But their celebration may have been premature, as moments later
Vice President Al Gore retracted a previously made concession when
news broke that vote counts from Florida were still too close to
call.
With results of the race depending on the Sunshine State, some
people see this election as demonstrating the importance of
voting.
“I think the establishment has a perception of what will
happen,” said political science professor Thomas Plate.
“But the X-factor is the American people ““ what’s
happening tonight tells you the elite doesn’t run the
country, the people do.”
With Bush leading Gore by under 1,000 votes in Florida as of
press time, and the vice president leading in popular votes
nationwide, the candidates ran a heated race.
 DAVE HILL/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Ted
Cruz of Long Beach jumps for joy among other Bush
supporters at the California Republican victory celebration last
night. “I thought it would be a stronger win, but the reality
is the country is right in the center,” said William Rogers,
a Republican. “It shows democracy works and now we have an
opportunity to show what the conservative side can do for the
United States.”
Republicans at the Marriott attributed Bush’s popularity
to President Clinton’s fumbles in office.
“Folks couldn’t get Clinton so they nailed
Gore,” said Vernon Robinson, an alderman from North Carolina
who came to the party.
For others, the Texas governor appealed to Americans because he
reached out to areas previously ignored by the Republican
Party.
“He was embracing immigrants around the United
States,” said Eric Wickland, who is running for mayor of Los
Angeles. “He opened doors for every inner-city in
America.”
Before results from Florida were announced, some Republicans
said they were confident Bush would win, but the close race
frustrated others.
“I fought with my husband, I fought with my children. I
pushed a plate into the sink because I was so worried,” said
Tereza Bassily.
“If Gore had won, I would have left the
country.”
Though the race was not officially over, most Republicans
foresaw a Bush victory.
“I am proud today that America has taken back the White
House and that Bush will lead us into the next century,” said
Mari Estrella, a ’95 alumna, who planned on staying at the
hotel and celebrating with other Bush supporters.
Bruin Republicans who rounded up a small pool of supporters at
the hotel, said they planned on returning home and celebrating
Wednesday at their general meeting.
