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Confidence turns to concern at Clinton watch party

Hillary Clinton's supporters exuded a quiet confidence as they filtered into the campaign's Philadelphia watch party, bearing grins, ordering drinks, and paying little attention to the big screen in the corner, except to applaud a result that signaled that the race was falling in Clinton's favor.

Hillary Clinton's supporters exuded a quiet confidence as they filtered into the campaign's Philadelphia watch party, bearing grins, ordering drinks, and paying little attention to the big screen in the corner, except to applaud a result that signaled that the race was falling in Clinton's favor.

Until it wasn't anymore.

The room turned jittery. Eyes locked on the broadcast. With each update, conversations quieted.

The largest hush fell when CNN's Jake Tapper gave a local analysis: "She should be doing much better in the city of Philadelphia," he said.

"I really thought it would be done by now," 45-year-old June Leavy of Radnor said just after 10 p.m., her mouth hanging agape and her eyes wide.

The disco hit "Good Times" pumped through the speakers.

The mood said otherwise.

It was a stark turn from where the party, hosted by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, had started.

"I can't believe I might see the day when we have a woman president," said 50-year-old Karen Sugarman as the first results came in. "I'm getting chills saying that."

Her neighbor Regan Tigne, 35, wasn't saying might. She said that Clinton would win, and added that she works part time as a psychic and tarot card reader, so she had reason to feel confident.

"It'll be incredible for women. It'll be incredible for everyone," she said. "It'll be incredible for any person, gay, straight, black, white, it doesn't matter. The country will be safe."

Jackie Kemp, 50, also started the night anticipating a win for her candidate. As a black woman who thought that President Obama's 2008 win finally brought "liberty and justice" for the nation, she said she had the same feeling awaiting the night's results.

"Women, we have a hard road to plow - just like African Americans," she said. "In that sense, I'm really here celebrating history."

Later in the night, as more results favoring Trump came in, Gov. Wolf perhaps sensed that the tone in the room had shifted and took the stage for a pep talk.

"It is going to be a long night," he said. "It's going to be closer than we thought. But we're going to prevail. Democracy is going to prevail."

Sen. Bob Casey did the same about an hour later, as more worrisome results came in.

"We don't mind having a long night," he said. "As long as we have the right result in hand.

Phil Salkie, 53, of Philadelphia, stood alone in a sea of bodies turned toward the television, his stance wide and arms folded in front of him. He said he had felt better but was trying to stay positive.

"Lots of blue states out West," he said. "Let's just keep hoping, keep pushing. See if we can put some sense into this map."

Nearby, 49-year-old Donnell Martin of Philadelphia said he, too, was refusing to be panicked. Just then, Colorado was called for Clinton, and he nodded his head.

"See, that's what I'm talking about," he said. "That's what we're going to keep hearing all night."

Shortly after, another string came in for their candidate - California, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii - and the room erupted, hanging on every word.

tnadolny@phillynews.com

215-854-2730

@TriciaNadolny