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| Party time for Americans in UK | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| By Lisa Mitchell BBC News People wore their party colours with pride | By Lisa Mitchell BBC News People wore their party colours with pride |
| "I've lived in Europe for 15 years and didn't feel American any more. Tonight I feel all American." | "I've lived in Europe for 15 years and didn't feel American any more. Tonight I feel all American." |
| Lori Demori was among the 300,000 Americans watching their country vote from British shores. | Lori Demori was among the 300,000 Americans watching their country vote from British shores. |
| At parties around the UK, they watched the election unfold minute by minute alongside their countryfolk thousands of miles away. | At parties around the UK, they watched the election unfold minute by minute alongside their countryfolk thousands of miles away. |
| For writer Lori, watching Barack Obama win was like coming home. | For writer Lori, watching Barack Obama win was like coming home. |
| "That brash hopefulness I loved about America is on its way back. Seeing people's faces looking hopeful is quite moving. | "That brash hopefulness I loved about America is on its way back. Seeing people's faces looking hopeful is quite moving. |
| "I just want to keep enjoying it. When we look back, this is going to be something that was big." | "I just want to keep enjoying it. When we look back, this is going to be something that was big." |
| Polling day thrill | Polling day thrill |
| At the US Embassy in central London, the staff had done their best to make it feel like home. | At the US Embassy in central London, the staff had done their best to make it feel like home. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7710496.stm">In pictures: Election party | |
| The visa department was temporarily festooned with red, white and blue banners. The front of the ugly, stark building, peppered with flashing stars and stripes. | The visa department was temporarily festooned with red, white and blue banners. The front of the ugly, stark building, peppered with flashing stars and stripes. |
| And throughout the building was the stuffy smell of frying fat from the Burger King stall, set up to keep partygoers going all night. | And throughout the building was the stuffy smell of frying fat from the Burger King stall, set up to keep partygoers going all night. |
| For them, their voting day was long ago, when they posted their absentee ballots. | For them, their voting day was long ago, when they posted their absentee ballots. |
| Ambassador Robert Tuttle missed the physical thrill on polling day of going down the street to the garage attached to his neighbour's house and casting his vote. | Ambassador Robert Tuttle missed the physical thrill on polling day of going down the street to the garage attached to his neighbour's house and casting his vote. |
| Under some strange regulation in California, almost anyone can set up a polling station. Anywhere. | Under some strange regulation in California, almost anyone can set up a polling station. Anywhere. |
| "We used to have one in our car showroom in Tuscon, Orange County," the ambassador said. | "We used to have one in our car showroom in Tuscon, Orange County," the ambassador said. |
| "We'd just move the cars over and open the showroom's doors." | "We'd just move the cars over and open the showroom's doors." |
| Singing and jazz | Singing and jazz |
| The excitement surrounding this election was reflected by the embassy hosting its biggest election night bash. | The excitement surrounding this election was reflected by the embassy hosting its biggest election night bash. |
| Two thousand Americans and British friends were entertained by glee clubs and jazz bands, until there was only one focus in the room as the votes came in. | Two thousand Americans and British friends were entertained by glee clubs and jazz bands, until there was only one focus in the room as the votes came in. |
| People wore their party colours with pride but the rivalry was good-natured. | People wore their party colours with pride but the rivalry was good-natured. |
| It hadn't always been like that for Democrat Deana Puccio Ferraro. | It hadn't always been like that for Democrat Deana Puccio Ferraro. |
| I'm torn because I'm aware how much the rest of the world wanted Obama Fred Gander Brown hails 'inspirational' Obama | I'm torn because I'm aware how much the rest of the world wanted Obama Fred Gander Brown hails 'inspirational' Obama |
| "Most of my closest friends are Republicans. We can't even talk about it. It's been pretty contentious!" | "Most of my closest friends are Republicans. We can't even talk about it. It's been pretty contentious!" |
| However, her friend and Republican Fred Gander took it well as state after state fell to Obama. | However, her friend and Republican Fred Gander took it well as state after state fell to Obama. |
| "It's very disappointing," said the lawyer from Ohio. | "It's very disappointing," said the lawyer from Ohio. |
| "Ohio hasn't voted Democrat for years but I could tell when I was home in September, it was a toss up. And that was before the economic problems." | "Ohio hasn't voted Democrat for years but I could tell when I was home in September, it was a toss up. And that was before the economic problems." |
| He has always voted Republican but living abroad has changed how he views his country. | He has always voted Republican but living abroad has changed how he views his country. |
| "I'm torn because I'm aware how much the rest of the world wanted Obama," he said. | "I'm torn because I'm aware how much the rest of the world wanted Obama," he said. |
| Democrats and Republicans watched the results side-by-side | Democrats and Republicans watched the results side-by-side |
| Cuban Arnaldo Hernandez Diaz thinks his country has a lot to teach President Obama. | Cuban Arnaldo Hernandez Diaz thinks his country has a lot to teach President Obama. |
| Referring to a Republican attempt to persuade voters that Obama wanted to turn the US socialist like Cuba, Mr Diaz did not see any problem. | Referring to a Republican attempt to persuade voters that Obama wanted to turn the US socialist like Cuba, Mr Diaz did not see any problem. |
| "Our system is better than theirs! I think Obama will be good for Cuba." | "Our system is better than theirs! I think Obama will be good for Cuba." |
| Democratic confidence truly began to grow after Ohio went to Obama. | Democratic confidence truly began to grow after Ohio went to Obama. |
| Many had begun the night saying they barely dared to hope it could happen, despite the most recent polls pointing to victory. | Many had begun the night saying they barely dared to hope it could happen, despite the most recent polls pointing to victory. |
| "It's a foregone conclusion now," said statistics student Maurice Berk, who had painted a US flag on the side of his shaved head. | "It's a foregone conclusion now," said statistics student Maurice Berk, who had painted a US flag on the side of his shaved head. |
| 'Yes, we can' | 'Yes, we can' |
| In Edinburgh, Gregor Dodson, from San Francisco, watched at home with his wife after trying to get into the university's student union to watch, but it was too full. | In Edinburgh, Gregor Dodson, from San Francisco, watched at home with his wife after trying to get into the university's student union to watch, but it was too full. |
| "It's a massive place and it was packed with non-Americans. It's amazing." | "It's a massive place and it was packed with non-Americans. It's amazing." |
| At the East Room bar in Shoreditch, London, Americans were joined by Australians, Scots and Canadians, all gripped by election fever. | At the East Room bar in Shoreditch, London, Americans were joined by Australians, Scots and Canadians, all gripped by election fever. |
| Sheila Jamieson would vote Obama - if only she was American. | Sheila Jamieson would vote Obama - if only she was American. |
| "I'm Scottish but I do a lot of work in America so what's happening there directly affects me." | "I'm Scottish but I do a lot of work in America so what's happening there directly affects me." |
| As the night draws on, Sheila shares her recipe for staying awake: Vodka espresso martinis. | As the night draws on, Sheila shares her recipe for staying awake: Vodka espresso martinis. |
| Obama may have won the election, but for drag queen Prestige, there is another outstanding winner. | Obama may have won the election, but for drag queen Prestige, there is another outstanding winner. |
| Already a favourite in her routine, Prestige says Sarah Palin is so recognisable because she is a "slave to her image". | Already a favourite in her routine, Prestige says Sarah Palin is so recognisable because she is a "slave to her image". |
| Her future, according to Prestige, is in reality TV. | Her future, according to Prestige, is in reality TV. |
| "Or she'll sell jewellery on QVC." | "Or she'll sell jewellery on QVC." |
| Back at the embassy, the future of the Democratic candidates is assured. | Back at the embassy, the future of the Democratic candidates is assured. |
| The party rings out with Obama's anthem: "Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!" | The party rings out with Obama's anthem: "Yes we can! Yes we can! Yes we can!" |