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| A Bit of Quiet Optimism, and Some Superstition, Before a Tight Victory | A Bit of Quiet Optimism, and Some Superstition, Before a Tight Victory |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| CHICAGO — He woke up in his old bed, here in sweet home Chicago. He played a superstitious game of basketball with old pals and aides from the 2008 glory days, as he did on many primary poll days back then. He did a few final interviews. And he even congratulated his rival, Mitt Romney, saying he knew that “his supporters are just as engaged and just as enthusiastic and working just as hard today.” | CHICAGO — He woke up in his old bed, here in sweet home Chicago. He played a superstitious game of basketball with old pals and aides from the 2008 glory days, as he did on many primary poll days back then. He did a few final interviews. And he even congratulated his rival, Mitt Romney, saying he knew that “his supporters are just as engaged and just as enthusiastic and working just as hard today.” |
| All day on Election Day, President Obama wrapped himself in the familiar, as around him, his aides wrapped themselves in the fiercest of hopes that when all the votes were cast, the country’s first black president would be joining the rarefied ranks of two-term presidents. | All day on Election Day, President Obama wrapped himself in the familiar, as around him, his aides wrapped themselves in the fiercest of hopes that when all the votes were cast, the country’s first black president would be joining the rarefied ranks of two-term presidents. |
| Every one of them was nervous, yet still claiming to be convinced that Mr. Obama would win. The veterans of the soaring 2008 campaign — Robert Gibbs, Reggie Love, David Axelrod, David Plouffe (the latter two wearing Obama 2008 fleece jackets) — joined with those who had joined only for the plodding 2012 campaign. Even as they expressed cautious optimism, the campaign had a cross-your-fingers, superstitious air. | Every one of them was nervous, yet still claiming to be convinced that Mr. Obama would win. The veterans of the soaring 2008 campaign — Robert Gibbs, Reggie Love, David Axelrod, David Plouffe (the latter two wearing Obama 2008 fleece jackets) — joined with those who had joined only for the plodding 2012 campaign. Even as they expressed cautious optimism, the campaign had a cross-your-fingers, superstitious air. |
| Besides Jay Carney, the press secretary, Jon Favreau, Mr. Obama’s speechwriter, and Ben Rhodes, a national security aide, stopped shaving as a good-luck charm for Mr. Obama’s re-election. The president joked about his scruffy staffers Monday night in Columbus, when he met up with some roadies after a rally who were sporting Santa-style beards: “You guys got your playoff beards going, too?” | Besides Jay Carney, the press secretary, Jon Favreau, Mr. Obama’s speechwriter, and Ben Rhodes, a national security aide, stopped shaving as a good-luck charm for Mr. Obama’s re-election. The president joked about his scruffy staffers Monday night in Columbus, when he met up with some roadies after a rally who were sporting Santa-style beards: “You guys got your playoff beards going, too?” |
| In one of the campaign’s central rituals, Mr. Obama played basketball on Tuesday, because he believes that he does not win when he does not play. Twice during his primary fight with Hillary Rodham Clinton back in 2008, he skipped his afternoon game on the days ballots were cast. And both times he lost. “We won’t make that mistake again,” Mr. Gibbs said. | In one of the campaign’s central rituals, Mr. Obama played basketball on Tuesday, because he believes that he does not win when he does not play. Twice during his primary fight with Hillary Rodham Clinton back in 2008, he skipped his afternoon game on the days ballots were cast. And both times he lost. “We won’t make that mistake again,” Mr. Gibbs said. |
| At 1:07 p.m., on a chilly and drizzly Lake Michigan afternoon, Mr. Obama arrived at the Attack Athletics basketball court on West Harrison Street in downtown Chicago. Among the other players were Mr. Love, his former body man and a former Duke University basketball player; the former Chicago Bull Scottie Pippen; Education Secretary Arne Duncan and a cadre of close Chicago friends. They played four 12-minute quarters, and Mr. Obama’s team won, according to his friend Alexi Giannoulias, who, with Mr. Pippen, was on the president’s team. | At 1:07 p.m., on a chilly and drizzly Lake Michigan afternoon, Mr. Obama arrived at the Attack Athletics basketball court on West Harrison Street in downtown Chicago. Among the other players were Mr. Love, his former body man and a former Duke University basketball player; the former Chicago Bull Scottie Pippen; Education Secretary Arne Duncan and a cadre of close Chicago friends. They played four 12-minute quarters, and Mr. Obama’s team won, according to his friend Alexi Giannoulias, who, with Mr. Pippen, was on the president’s team. |
| It was a rare reprieve from reporters, cheering crowds and caffeine-fueled campaign volunteers, and a chance for the president to try to get his mind away from the events of the day. | It was a rare reprieve from reporters, cheering crowds and caffeine-fueled campaign volunteers, and a chance for the president to try to get his mind away from the events of the day. |
| But there was also ordinary White House business. On Tuesday, he convened a call with officials to talk about recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy. | But there was also ordinary White House business. On Tuesday, he convened a call with officials to talk about recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy. |
| But at the end of the day, Tuesday was not about being president. It was about trying to win the chance to be president for four more years. So along with the basketball game and the conference call, Mr. Obama visited his campaign headquarters in Chicago. | But at the end of the day, Tuesday was not about being president. It was about trying to win the chance to be president for four more years. So along with the basketball game and the conference call, Mr. Obama visited his campaign headquarters in Chicago. |
| “Hi, is this Annie?” Mr. Obama said into a cellphone as he tried to rally voters and volunteers. “This is Barack Obama.” | “Hi, is this Annie?” Mr. Obama said into a cellphone as he tried to rally voters and volunteers. “This is Barack Obama.” |
| Annie — of Wisconsin, the campaign said — may not have been too convinced. | Annie — of Wisconsin, the campaign said — may not have been too convinced. |
| “This is Barack Obama,” the president repeated. “You know, the president?” | “This is Barack Obama,” the president repeated. “You know, the president?” |
| Finally, a conversation ensued. “She was very nice to me even though she initially didn’t know who I was,” Mr. Obama said when the call ended. | Finally, a conversation ensued. “She was very nice to me even though she initially didn’t know who I was,” Mr. Obama said when the call ended. |
| By afternoon, supporters had started to stream into McCormick Place, the mammoth convention center where Mr. Obama would address them when the results were known. The difference between four years ago, when 200,000 people withstood the cold in Grant Park, was notable. | By afternoon, supporters had started to stream into McCormick Place, the mammoth convention center where Mr. Obama would address them when the results were known. The difference between four years ago, when 200,000 people withstood the cold in Grant Park, was notable. |
| As the crowds streamed into McCormick, Mr. Obama had dinner with his family in the Hyde Park home where they had lived before he became president. He went to the Fairmont Hotel downtown to watch the returns with friends and families. | As the crowds streamed into McCormick, Mr. Obama had dinner with his family in the Hyde Park home where they had lived before he became president. He went to the Fairmont Hotel downtown to watch the returns with friends and families. |
| Earlier in the day, the president told a Colorado radio station he had prepared two different speeches for tonight. At the Fairmont, he waited to see which of the two he would be giving. | Earlier in the day, the president told a Colorado radio station he had prepared two different speeches for tonight. At the Fairmont, he waited to see which of the two he would be giving. |
| The cross-your-fingers optimism continued right up until the moment — at 10:12 p.m. Central time — that NBC called the election for Mr. Obama. Worried aides had been pointing to early signs of apparent success in Florida one minute, then wailing, “Why haven’t they called Ohio?” the next. | |
| But then, in an instant, everything changed. At the Fairmont, where Mr. Obama’s top aides were awaiting results, people began crying with joy and exchanging high fives. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who had been on the phone all evening calling congressional leaders, bolted from his perch one floor below Mr. Obama and headed upstairs to join his running mate. | But then, in an instant, everything changed. At the Fairmont, where Mr. Obama’s top aides were awaiting results, people began crying with joy and exchanging high fives. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who had been on the phone all evening calling congressional leaders, bolted from his perch one floor below Mr. Obama and headed upstairs to join his running mate. |
| And the president prepared to head to McCormick Place, with his victory speech in tow. | And the president prepared to head to McCormick Place, with his victory speech in tow. |