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Obama Backers At Ybor Gathering Filled With Emotion

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

Patrons at Good Luck Cafe in Ybor City celebrate after CNN projected Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama as the winner Tuesday.

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By DONNA KOEHN

dkoehn@tampatrib.com

Published: November 5, 2008

Updated: 11/05/2008 12:20 am

The screams of joy carried down historic Seventh Avenue in Ybor City.

Their man had done it.

As CNN called the race for Barack Obama at 11 p.m., revelers at the Good Luck Cafe threw their arms in the air and cut loose in an extended shout of near-ecstasy. Women wept, men hugged strangers and partiers emptied into the streets to wave at passing cars honking their horns.

"It's New Year's Eve! It's New Year's Eve!" shouted a joyous Carl Sanders, 45, who on Tuesday traveled from Tampa to his home in Jacksonville to vote and back. He even took a photo of his ballot to show his mother.

"She told me if I never did anything else again for her, I had to vote for Obama."

Many of those gathered spoke of how much this would have meant to relatives who didn't live to see this day.

Tara Bristol, 43, took her daughters, 15 and 10, with her to the polls today.

"My daughters and myself all held the pen in our hands at the same time and voted for him," she said. "It's a moment in history."

Despite the late hour, some children joined their parents at the party.

"Barack is phenomenal," Bristol said. "I'm on cloud nine."

Candy Lowe, 44, said she was up all last night, watching CNN. Tuesday, she delivered food to 15 polling sites.

"I don't want to sleep," she said. "To see this in my lifetime is unbelievable, unbelievable. I have a drive and passion to move forward in my life. I feel on the top of the mountain now because of Obama."

Some said they couldn't bear to pass the evening at home in front of the TV. They needed to be with others of like mind, ready to share the emotional catharsis.

Earlier in the evening, the club resembled a church as partiers observed a moment of silence in honor of Obama. Some bowed their heads as if in prayer. Others peeked at CNN.

After the screams died down, the deejay cranked up "Celebration."

Reporter Donna Koehn can be reached at (813) 259-8264.

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