alternatehistory.com

Election Night

The clock had just struck eleven as a wave of Pacific states were being projected by every major network broadcasting one of the country's most sacred traditions. After so many long months of hard fought campaigning, Election 2008 was finally coming to a close. No more rallies. No more town halls. No more debates. No more campaign commercials flooding the networks.

Washington. Oregon. California. Hawaii. That was it. It was all over. The Democratic candidate couldn't help but give a wide, cheek-to-cheek smile as the decisive results aired on television. The election results themselves weren't particularly shocking - as the Bush administration's policies toward Iraq and the War on Terror became increasingly unpopular, and the economy was getting worse and worse as the possibility of a new Great Depression threatened the country, it was a common belief that the real presidential election had already taken place in the contentious Democratic primary. Whoever they nominated was almost certainly going to become President. The real excitement was in who won.

Whether you were a Republican, Democrat, an Independent... anyone who hadn't been living under a rock for the past year knew that this wasn't an ordinary result, and that whether you loved or hated the candidate, it meant big news for social progress for a group of Americans that had long been restricted by those in power of equal rights and opportunity. Change had truly come to America.

The country finally had its first female president.



It was a long road getting there. Not so much the general, as Clinton correctly figured that John McCain and Tom Ridge were never going to get elected simply because they were Republicans in a Democratic year. But her road to the White House, initially anticipated to be an easy ride to the nomination, faced an unexpected challenge in the young, charismatic Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, and she barely pulled through to clinch the nomination, seriously threatening party unity. Thankfully for the Clinton campaign, Obama chose to step aside from campaigning and endorsed Hillary Clinton in her run for president. Despite concerns from the party's left-wing about her being a potential hawk, given her vote in favor of the Iraq War, they were nullified as she was up against the renowned war hawk John McCain, leaving her as a more favorable alternative.

The unity paid off for the Democrats. Building on already impressive gains made in the 2006 midterm elections, they ending up increasing their House majority by 21 seats resulting in an overall 257-178 majority. Additionally, Democrats picked up eight Senate seats, going from a slight 51-49 majority (counting independents Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman) to a 59-41 majority. As if winning the election and making history weren't enough, having a strong Congressional base coming into office to pass her agenda only made the empowered Senator more delighted as she was finishing up her victory speech. Soon enough, she was at her campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, basking in her victory surrounded by cheering supporters.



"Thank you! Thank you all!" she exclaimed, seeming to be almost on the verge of tears. "Thank you to Vice President-elect Brian Schweitzer for running this election with me, along with all of the amazing campaign workers that helped to make this possible. I couldn't possibly give enough thanks to my husband Bill and my wonderful daughter Chelsea, for always standing by my side and offering their undying love and encouragement. And of course, thank you to all of the voters that have volunteered and campaigned for this effort to bring change to this country. Let it be known that tonight, you didn't simply cast a vote for me, but in voting for me you chose the path to progress, and a better future for this country. We will find bin Laden. We will bring an end to the war in Iraq and renew focus on Afghanistan. We will expand the economy and bring the country back from the hardships of recession. We fight to create a cleaner environment and invest in renewable energy to fight the effects of climate change! Equal pay for equal work! Paid family leave and universal preschool will be key programs pursued by the next administration. We'll also make the skyrocketing costs of health insurance more affordable for the average American. And beyond the achievements that we can and will make over the next eight years, I truly hope most of all that this victory will send a message to the young girls all over the country watching right now on television sets, that there is no barrier that they can't break."

Cheers engulfed the room as President-elect Clinton exited the stage following the end of her victory speech. But she knew from being First Lady during her husband's presidency that, perhaps unlike that young, inspiring fellow that challenged her, ensuring her presidency would be successful would be no easy task, and Republican leaders would do whatever it took to obstruct her goals. Although she had the clear advantage for now, she couldn't allow herself to underestimate the opposition, and it would take very intense lobbying and persuasion to quell it. Her advantage was that she knew it was coming.
Top