A life-sized cutout is carted into Abe and Jake's Landing on election night on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008.

Photo by Thad Allender

Caleb Bigsby dons a Barack Obama t-shirt on election night on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 at Abe and Jake's Landing.

Photo by Thad Allender

Barack Obama supporters celebrate as CNN predicts the Illinois Senator a winner in Ohio on election night on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 at Abe and Jake's Landing.

Photo by Thad Allender

Lydia Palmer, 10, has a decorative hat pulled over her head by her brother, Kenneth, 12, on election night on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 at Abe and Jake's Landing.

Photo by Thad Allender

Dominic Munoz, 11, of Lawrence, watches the presidential election returns at Abe and Jake's Landing on Tuesday "I just think America needs change," said Munoz, who attended the watch party with his grandparents.

Photo by Thad Allender

J.R. Demby, Lawrence, hoists his hand as Barack Obama is projected as the next president of the United States. "I think about my 12-year-old daughter and her generation and how they can grow up seeing this as normal," Demby said about electing the first black man to the presidency.

Photo by Thad Allender

Caleb Bigsby, left, hugs Ashleigh Ferguson as Katie Bieber hoists an Obama-Biden sign during election night on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at Abe and Jakes Landing.

Photo by Thad Allender

Caleb Bigsby pounds his fist after Barack Obama was projected as the next President of the United States on election night on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 at Abe and Jake's Landing.

Photo by Thad Allender

Democrats celebrate after Barack Obama was projected as president during election night on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at Abe and Jakes Landing.

Photo by Thad Allender

Barack Obama supporters celebrate after the Illinois senator was projected to win the presidential election Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at Abe and Jake's Landing.

Photo by Thad Allender

Cub Scout pack 3052 gathers with other observers to watch election results come in to the Douglas County Courthouse Tuesda

Photo by Mike Yoder

Republican Rep. Tom Sloan talks to a supporter on his phone Tuesday at the Douglas County Courthouse after defeating Democrat John Wilson in the 45th District House race. Sloan's wife, Gail, is at center, and his daughter, Lynnette Wood, is at right.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Marci Francisco, left, and Nancy Thellman visit at a Democratic gathering Tuesday at Maceli's, 1031 N.H. Francisco, the Democratic incumbent defeated challenger Scott Morgan to remain in the 2nd District Senate seat. Thellman defeated Republican David Brown for a Douglas County Commission seat.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Tom Holland, center, is congratulated by friends Jim and Maribeth Sturgeon at a Democratic gathering at Maceli's Tuesday evening. Holland, Baldwin City, edged out incumbent Roger Pine in the state Senate District 3 race in Tuesday's election. The Senate district includes Jefferson County, much of Leavenworth County and in Douglas County Eudora, Grant, Palmyra townships and part of Wakarusa Township.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Jim Flory, far right, and his wife Donna, second from right, watch final results displayed on a screen at the Douglas County Courthouse Tuesday. Flory defeated Ken Groteweil in the Douglas County commission 3rd District race. From left are Shannon Oury and her two daughters Emma, 12, and Kate, 10, and in the background former Douglas County Sheriff Loren Anderson and his wife Judy.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Derek Holland, far left, Tom Holland's son, calls friends in Baldwin to give results of voting from the Douglas County Courthouse Tuesday. Democrat Tom Holland defeated Republican Roger Pine in the state senate race for district 3.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Nancy Thellman, center, is congratulated by Paula Schumacher, right, after Thellman's win against David Brown in the Douglas County commission race for the 2nd district. At right is Jennifer Johnson, wife of Ken Grotewiel, who lost in his bid Tuesday for a county commission spot in thw 3rd district. Thellman was at the Douglas County Courthouse Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008 to watch results come in from the county.

Photo by Mike Yoder

From left, city manager David Corliss and city commissioner Boog Highberger discuss the passage in Lawrence of ballot questions that ensures funding for the T and provide for upgrades to city infrastructure. The two and current mayor Mike Dever, right, were at the Douglas County Courthouse Tuesday to watch voting results.

Photo by Mike Yoder

Scott Morgan and Ken Grotewiel look over election totals as they wait at the Douglas County Courthouse Tuesday. Morgan, a Republican lost to incumbent Democrat Marci Francisco in the State Senate District 2 race. Democrat Grotewiel lost to Republican Jim Flory in the county commission race in the 3rd district.

Photo by Mike Yoder

An Obama supporter, hidden by a mask resembling the soon-to-be President, waves a flag while hanging out of an SUV window shortly after midnight early in the morning of Nov. 5, 2008, after Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States.

Photo by Thad Allender

Youth flood Massachusetts Street shortly after midnight in the early morning of Nov. 5, 2008, after Sen. Barack Obama beat Sen. John McCain in the race for President of the United States. About 100 youth paraded down the street, slapping hands with passing cars, hoisting signs and chanting.

Photo by Thad Allender