Mood at Republican party leaves a vivid memory

One surprise from the GOP election night watch party was how after President Barack Obama was declared the winner, so many Republicans didn’t stick around to see how other Republicans on the ballot did.

It was almost as if they didn’t care whether Sen. Dean Heller or Rep. Joe Heck were winning, or whether the GOP took over the state Senate as promised (a promise they failed to keep).

“We just lost the country,” one angry white male Republican told me as I was leaving The Venetian for the Democratic Party at Mandalay Bay

While the balloon was deflating at The Venetian, at Mandalay Bay the energy was palpable, the crowd was probably double the 800 or so at the GOP event and people were lining up to get into the Democratic Party. Inside, it was hot and sweaty, and up front about 50 happy celebrants were dancing with joy.

Four years ago, I was in the Rio following Secretary of State Ross Miller when Obama was called as the winner. A roaring sound raced up the outside wall of the hotel into Miller’s suite. You could actually feel the sound go through your body.

This time, my memories will be of being with the Republicans booing, then leaving. And those long red evening gowns worn by various GOP women who thought they were going to a ball.

Equally vivid: The utter indifference to the results of the presidential election in the casino.