ALLENTOWN, Pa. — As the Senate race edges close to its conclusion, the mood at Republican Pat Toomey's watch party is tense, but hopeful.
“It’s a coin toss right now,” said Matt Blackburn Sr. of Erie, Pa., when Toomey was shown to be ahead by 27,000 votes.
“I’m feeling pretty confident,” said Alex Ross, a resident of Allentown. “The race is closer than the polls were indicating before the election, so there’s a reason to be a little nervous, but right now we’re ahead with only a little left to come in — so I’m feeling pretty good.”
Bonnie Spagnardi, from Bethlehem, Pa., described the night as a “roller coaster.”
“No one expected to have to be counting the thousands of votes rather than the percentage points,” Spagnardi said. “Everyone’s freaking out, but they should. It’s a big deal.”
UPDATE, 11:48 p.m. — The Associated Press called the race for Toomey over Democrat Joe Sestak.
