BOSTON -- While election results were seemingly in favor of a Bush victory in Ohio, and thus four more years of a Republican presidency, Democrats began to challenge several claims by news agencies that Bush won the state's 20 electoral votes.
Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards said he and Sen. John Kerry made a promise to the American people that "every vote will count, and every vote will be counted."
"Tonight we are keeping our word and we will fight for every vote. You deserve no less," he said.
Soon after, event announcers declared the night over as Boston's historic Copley Square, the site of Kerry's election night headquarters, emptied.
The Election night began at the square at 8 p.m. and featured many notable political figures and celebrities.
Kristin Breitweiser, a Sept. 11 widow credited with helping form the 9/11 Commission, addressed the crowds side by side with other women affected by the attacks.
"We wanted to make sure that no other person would feel the devastation of watching a loved one die on worldwide television," Breitweiser said.
She also blasted the Bush administration, recalling her struggle to receive answers regarding the terrorist attacks.
"We can once again be a nation that's united and respected around the world," Breitweiser said. "We hope and pray that when the sun rises tomorrow, John Kerry will be president."
Musical acts that highlighted the evening included Carole King, James Taylor, The Black-Eyed Peas, Sheryl Crow and Jon Bon Jovi. Each of the artists delivered politically charged messages.
"I hope to God you voted for John Kerry," Bon Jovi said.
He later gave words to help mend the nation's deep political split.
"This country has become more polarized than I have ever seen in my lifetime," he said. "Regardless of the outcome, we're bigger than being Republicans, we're bigger than being Democrats -- we're Americans. Old wounds need to heal so that we can live in the America I grew up in, the America you grew up in."
As the night waned on, the outcome of the battleground states became known. Kerry garnered electoral votes in Pennsylvania, while Florida fell into the Bush column. The crowds cheered at every electoral vote Kerry gained, but were demoralized as a possible victory seemed in serious jeopardy, with the election largely boiled down to the outcome in Ohio.
"I personally think Bush is going to win," said onlooker and Kerry supporter David Schiffer. "America chooses their winner and they chose Bush. They're going to live with that choice."
Schiffer added that the next four years in the presidency will be especially difficult.
"Whoever would have won would have a lot to deal with," he said. "Iraq is Bush's war, whatever happens is going to be square with Bush now. None of the blame can be put on any Democratic winner. Bush is going to live and die with this war, it's almost right for him to deal with it as he can."
However, others were more optimistic for Kerry's chances at victory.
"I think that the swing states are going to come through to us, unless I've missed something vital," Kerry supporter Cheryl Collins said around 12:30 a.m.
Collins described Kerry's chances in Ohio as "extraordinary," stating that voters in Ohio have suffered economic hardship and thus would vote Democratic. She added that she would stay and wait in the square well through this morning until results were determined.
But then, at 1 a.m., the news came.
The city that has been at the forefront of American history, the city that witnessed one from their own state nominated as a presidential candidate last summer, the city that cheered on their beloved Red Sox in a miraculous World Series run against all odds went dead silent as networks declared Ohio a Bush victory.
As CNN announced that Ohio was too close to call 15 minutes later, a small breath of life was given to the crowd.
But surely no one left Copley Square this evening confident of a Kerry victory as fights between the parties over the Ohio outcome continued.
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