Local Republican leaders and volunteers gathered for an election watch party Tuesday night and expressed disappointment upon hearing news of U.S. Sen. John McCain's, R.-Ariz., loss.
In his concession speech, McCain echoed his fellow Republicans' frustrations in losing the presidential race.
It's natural tonight to feel some disappointment,"" McCain said. ""We fought as hard as we could, we fell short.""
""We must move beyond [the loss] and work together to get our country moving again,"" he said.
With Barack Obama elected as the next president, McCain supporters displayed concern over the future of the Iraq War and growth in the size of government.
""I'm depressed about Obama becoming president because I know government can only go one direction. It can get bigger but it cannot get smaller because we live in a democracy,"" said Beau Lee, a volunteer for McCain's campaign from Mount Horeb.
For Madison resident Anna Watson, the Iraq War was the biggest issue determining her vote on Election Day.
""I'm really worried about Barack's plan for Iraq, I don't think it's a good plan,"" Watson said. ""I don't think people get it. They don't get the seriousness of the issues.""
Bob Bordson blamed the Republican party for choosing the wrong candidate to run in the election.
""I'd like to see [the Republican Party] stand up and get a spine,instead of run someone like McCain. The press picked him,"" Bordson said.
In four years the tides will turn, said Timothy Rookey, another party attendee.
""If Obama comes out as extreme as some say he will be, there will be a backlash against him and in four years you could have a Republican winning,"" Rookey said.
Still, other Republicans in the room remained hopeful and shared the same mentality about America's future articulated in McCain's speech.
""We have to go out and work harder, that's the whole idea of a democracy. If you lose you go back and regroup, find out what you did wrong and fix it,"" Lyman Woodman of McFarland said.
