Round two for Obama By KATE WINKLE The Rocky Mountain Collegian
When the announcement came, Stephanie Daley-Watson leapt into the air, gleefully cheering for President Obama’s election to a second term. The crowd of approximately 1,000 people gathered for a Colorado Democrats watch party in the Sheraton Downtown Denver Hotel cheered and threw their hands into the air, chanting, “Four more years!” “Tonight, you voted for action, not politics as usual,” Obama said Tuesday night during his victory speech in Chicago. “You elected us to focus on your jobs, not ours. And in the coming weeks and months, I am looking forward to reaching out and working with leaders of both parties.” Daley-Watson left her family and job in Seattle five days ago to campaign for President Obama in Colorado, where she
attended law school. Washington is a solidly Democratic state, and she said she believes it did not make sense to stay there. “It’s very rewarding to actually spend time doing something that you feel like you’re really giving back,” Daley-Watson said. “This is a very important presidential race for women’s issues, the middle class, the environment, the list is very long ... I couldn’t bear to think of an alternate outcome.” At Sports Authority Stadium at Mile High Tuesday night Republicans gathered anticipating an opposite end to the night. The watch party began as a cheerful and hopeful evening with attendees dressed in white, blue and mostly red. As the viewing party came to a close and the election was decided, silence cut with a few boo’s could be heard as republicans started for the exits. “With this choice our nation will suffer immensely and we’re going to become
a socialist nation and that’s just scary,” said Sonia Marschner, a volunteer for the Romney Campaign. In his concession speech, Mitt Romney thanked volunteers, fundraisers, donors and surrogates for their efforts in the campaign. He encouraged politicians nationally and at the state level to “put the people before the politics.” “I believe in America. I believe in the people of America,” Romney said. “And I ran for office because I’m concerned about America. This election is over, but our principles endure. I believe that the principles upon which this nation was founded are the only sure guide to a resurgent economy and to renewed greatness.” Energy remained high throughout the night as the music blasting from speakers near the front of the ballroom quieted periodically and eyes turned to two large screens broadcasting CNN’s election projections. The crowd responded
to every projected Democratic win with cheers that only increased in volume and frequency throughout the night. Rick Palacio, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, took the stage shortly after the announcement of Obama’s win. “I thought we’d be on edges of our seats a while longer,” he joked. Although Colorado eventually supported Obama by a close margin, it does not mean that Colorado is now a heavily Democratic state, according to political science professor John Straayer. “Colorado has been migrating in the blue direction, and tonight was another step in that direction,” Straayer said. Clustered around a table clutching glasses of wine, Denver residents Julie Rennick, Alice Gibbs and Trent Barnes enjoyed the camaraderie of the watch party. Barnes recently moved from New See OBAMA on Page 7
TOP: Asia Taylor, right, and her sister Ashlee celebrate the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States at the Colorado Democratic watch party in the Sheridan Hotel in Downtown Denver, Colo. Tuesday night. (Photo by Dylan Langille). LEFT: From left, Republicans Danielle Arceo, Valentine Hoffman, Ryan Kelly Murphey, and Daniel Lorrig react to the news of President Obama’s re election at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver Tuesday night shortly after the president won Ohio. (Photo by Nick Lyon). RIGHT: Diane Montgomery applauds as President Obama gets reelected into office at the Proposition 64 watch party at Avogadro’s Number on Tuesday. Almost everyone in the venue was overjoyed with the news. (Photo by Austin Simpson)
Colorado makes history, legalizes pot
LARIMER COUNTY VOTING BREAKDOWN President Election Total Candidates Barack Obama (D) Mitt Romney (R) Other
By EMILY SMITH The Rocky Mountain Collegian
80,528 / 51.22% 72,194 / 45.92% 4,510 / 2.86%
Congress District 2 Total Candidates Kevin Lundberg Jared Polis Randy Luallin Susan P. Hall AMENDMENT 64 – PASSED Total votes – 153,055
54.37% 45.63%
Legalized marijuana use for those 21 and older
AMENDMENT S – PASSED Total votes – 136,527
54.02% 45.98%
Modified the state personnel system
70,080 / 46.57% 72,577 / 48.22% 4,386 / 2.91% 3,454 / 2.3% AMENDMENT 65 – PASSED 75.61%
24.39% Total votes – 145,707
Recommended campaign spending limits
QUESTION 301* – PASSED Total votes – 69,722
55.84% 44.16%
Repealed ban on medical marijuana dispensaries
At 9:03 p.m. it was official; voters have chosen to end the prohibition of marijuana in the state of Colorado. Shouts erupted from Fort Collins resident Brie Hawley’s table at Avogadro’s Number Tuesday night as the results of Amendment 64’s passing made history. With this legislation, marijuana will now be legalized and regulated in Colorado similar to alcohol for individuals 21 years old and older. The amendment will modify Colorado’s constitution to allow these individuals to possess, use, grow and transfer up to one ounce of marijuana or up to six marijuana plants — with some restrictions. Amendment 64 passed with 963,204 votes, which came out to roughly 53 percent of the total 1,811,317 votes. In Larimer County, Amendment 64 received 83,210 “yes” votes of the total 153,055
votes counted. Every seat was filled at Avogadro’s Number as about 120 community members gathered to watch live election coverage from MSNBC on a large projection screen at the front of the room. “I’m all for it,” said Jesse Festa, who sat on the edge of the stage and sipped a beer with his girlfriend. “I’m originally from California. I think it’s a boost to the economy and it’s a natural drug — coffee is a natural drug and that’s legal.” Hawley, however, said she felt that the law will be difficult for marijuana growers to navigate until the drug is federally legalized. In response to Amendment 64 passing, substance abuse prevention group Team Fort Collins said they will continue to focus on education. “No matter the outcomes of Amendment 64 or Question 301, Team Fort Collins will stay the course of its mission to prevent alcohol and drug abuse,” said Ashley Kasprzk, executive director of
Team Fort Collins. “We also plan to address the increasing misperception that marijuana is not harmful,” Kasprzk said. “Team Fort Collins will do this by working on clear, effective and enforceable policies that ensure access is limited to those over 21.” Mason Tvert, co-director for the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol said Coloradans demonstrated that they are done with marijuana prohibition and ready to move on to a more sensible approach to marijuana. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol hosted a watch party Tuesday night at Casselman’s Bar in Denver. “A lot of people have worked really hard over the last several years, let alone months, to bring this campaign to where it is today,” Tvert said. “And people are very excited, this is a historic moment and I think people are proud See MARIJUANA on Page 8