We party so you don’t have to

In case you spent the soggy, far-too-long election night in the comfort of your couch and in the soothing company of Brit Hume (that would be most Republicans), we dutifully present you with scenes from the evening’s revels.

In case you spent the soggy, far-too-long election night in the comfort of your couch and in the soothing company of Brit Hume (that would be most Republicans), we dutifully present you with scenes from the evening’s revels.

At the Glover Park Group’s pre-election-party party at the Billy Goat Tavern, Dems such as Joe Lockheart and John Podesta started the evening looking nervously optimistic. Everyone was far too sober. So, on to the party PR doyenne Gloria Dittus threw in her posh Kalorama manse, where there were plenty of huge-screen TVs and laptops for the bipartisan crowd (a do-it-yourself nametag station allowed partygoers to choose between red and blue pens to write their names). 

Other bashes included a huddle of hipster Dem staffers hosted at 701 by lobbyist Lyndon Boozer, where drinks were flowing and the mood growing more festive.  At Campaigns & Elections magazine’s soiree at Lucky Strike bowling alley, young barflies seemed more concerned with chatting each other up than watching the returns.

But as the results started rolling in, the place to be was the Hyatt Regency, where the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee filled the hotel ballroom with what looked like the party’s entire intern and young-staffer class. Revelers rocked (that mostly meant awkward swaying) to upbeat classic-rock staples supplied by Springsteen cover band the B-Street Band in the far-too-small ballroom, which couldn’t contain the sweltering crowd.  “My vote worked!” the lead singer crowed as the news flashed across the big screen that Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) had won his nailbiter race.

And wait, what was that? Jennifer Crider, spokeswoman for soon-to-be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), spent part of what was arguably the most important night of her career padding around in comfy slippers. Crider left her shoes at home, a reporter said.  Never mind lost shoes or the cramped ballroom, ’cause when Pelosi finally arrived at the hotel, she was greeted by cheers and calls of “Madam Speaker” as she made her way to the adoring crowd. 

And speaking of sartorial statements, does the much-vaunted “New Direction for America” involve three-piece suits?  Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who along with fellow “thirtysomething” group members Reps. Kendrick Meek (D-Fla.) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) served as emcee, was sporting a brazen pinstriped ensemble that elicited more than one “Sopranos” comparison. 

Most of the reveling was of the fun, slightly inebriated variety, but the Dems did show they could, on occasion, go negative. When the big screens in the ballroom showed Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) surrounded by his crying kids while making a heartfelt concession speech to Bob Casey, partiers did mock the poor Santorum tots. 

We did try to look for Republicans on Tuesday night, really. They were nowhere to be found at the Capitol Lounge, the usual watering hole for young GOP staffers. Even there, a big “whooo-hooo” arose from the crowd when Democratic victories were announced.

 
Vote early, if not often

Virginia Republican Thelma Drake kept her House seat despite a tough challenge from Democrat Phil Kellam. One factor in Kellam’s defeat may have been that his supporters were a tad confused. Gun-jumping Kellam sent out an automated telephone call to voters on Monday reminding them that it was Election Day and that he needed their vote.

The problem?  Election Day was Tuesday, not Monday.

 
Movie stars for D’s; athletes for R’s

While movie and TV sitcom stars such as Michael J. Fox, Ben Affleck and Barbra Streisand typically flock to Democrats, during this election season, our nation’s athletes have been supporting Republicans whether they like it or not.  

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, on his “World Tour,” continuously wears Maryland Republican Senate candidate Michael Steele T-shirts. Tyson is Steele’s ex-brother-in-law, but the love between them apparently isn’t strong. Steele immediately distanced himself from the boxer, who has said he will fight women. Steele’s spokesman said, “[Tyson] is not connected to the campaign.”

Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.), on the other hand, welcomed attention from athletes, although the athletic supporters (pun intended) apparently couldn’t keep Hayworth from losing to Democratic challenger Harry Mitchell. During the campaign, he announced endorsements from baseball Hall-of-Famer Harmon Killebrew and Arizona Diamondbacks legend Luis Gonzalez, who also supports Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) because of Kyl’s “Viva Kyl” Latino outreach initiative.

“I’ve been a longtime supporter of Congressman J.D. Hayworth,” said Killebrew. “We need to keep him on the job in Congress.”

In June, Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) also received help from the athletic industry when Jack Roush, president of Roush Racing, and Michael Helton, President of NASCAR, endorsed him. During the event, they launched Racing Fans for Rick, a coalition of grassroots activists who enjoy motor sports and support the senator. Santorum was also endorsed by NASCAR racers Jeff Burton, Bill Elliott, Bobby Labonte, Richard Petty, and Darrell Waltrip, who in June also supported Rep. Ed Bryant’s (R-Tenn.) Senate run by cutting a 60-second radio ad.
 

 
Don’t count your chickens, Madam Ranking Member
 
Democrats had been feeling pretty confident in the days leading up to the elections. But Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.) was publicly trying out the spoils of the majority before the polls had even closed. At a Tuesday lunch in California, Sanchez was introduced to the crowd as the ranking member of the House Homeland Security panel. But the confident Dem promptly corrected the emcee and replied “that should be Madam Chairwoman — get used to it,” a GOP spy tells us.  “She was actually booed by a bipartisan crowd!” the source said.