Republicans watched in stoic silence as FOX News announced Obama’s victory. The room quieted as attendees watched screens where pundits explained how Obama won and watched as Democrats in Chicago cheered and rejoiced.

Attendees came hoping to rejoice as Romney sealed the presidency and even though they lost the race, for some, the day would still be remembered as a victory.

Senators, their families and other Republican attendees gathered in a skybox overlooking the Mile High City’s football field. Groups of attendees stood around small tables set up through the room, ready to celebrate Romney’s victory.

“Jobs is the biggest issue of this campaign and getting our deficit under control,” State Senator Scott W. Renfroe, and CSU graduate, said. “The president has avoided the issue and all he’s done is increase our debt. He has more debt than any other president in history. We need to get our deficit under control.”

Senator Mark Scheffel came with his wife and two daughters. Scheffel is up for reelection in District 4. Today his eighteen-year-old daughter voted for the first time and had the unique experience of voting for her father.

Maria said she remembers her parents would bring her with them into the voting booth when she was a child. She said she was taught the value of voting at a young age and knows that having the right to vote is a privilege. Looking out over the football field where the Broncos have brought home so many victories, Maria said she is excited to see her dad bring home his own victory tonight.

Maria’s mother, Cheri Scheffel, supported Romney because she thought he was the candidate that would provide a better future for her children.

“I would much rather see Romney as President because I feel like he can give more and provide more opportunities,” Scheffel said. “If you’re an American citizen voting is a privilege that people have died for. It may seem like your one vote doesn’t count but if we all felt that way none of us would be voting. It does matter.”

Mike McCormick left the party less optimistic.

“Obama is taking us to failure,” McCormick said.

McCormick identifies himself as a conservative. As such, he disapproves of Obama’s agenda that has increased government influence. “Big government costs more. I want a limited government, individual freedom, personal responsibility, strong military, free enterprise and Obama doesn’t support any of that,” McCormick said.

Outlining the economic problems in America, McCormick made an analogy.

He said Americans fit into two groups: people in the wagon and people who pull the wagon. The people in the wagon receive government handouts and, according to McCormick, the government has no money of its own; it has to collect it through taxes or borrow it.

“If we want more and more people in the wagon pretty soon there won’t be enough people to pull the wagon and the United States will be history,” McCormick said. “That would be a real sad situation.”

While most Republicans left the watch party feeling defeated, Bergman left ready to fight.

“The firepower needs to be directed elsewhere – the US house the US senate and the state legislatures,” Bergman said. “We are going to hold them accountable, America will hold them accountable.”

Student life beat reporter Kate Simmons can be reached at news@collegian.com