The election of Barack Obama brought jubilation to Hall County Democrats, who had little to celebrate locally or on a statewide basis.

The announcement of Obama's state-by-state wins and ultimately his election drew cheers at a Democratic Party celebration at Loco's Deli and Pub at Sherwood Plaza.

"We're thrilled, there has been a lot of excitement about the news nationally," said Abb Hayes, chairman of the Hall County Democratic Party. "Everybody is just thrilled about how things went for the Obama campaign. I think it's a great step for America."

U.S. Rep. Nathan Deal, R-Gainesville, who was re-elected by a 3-to-1 margin, said Obama's election makes getting the country's fiscal house in order a more difficult task.

"He's made many promises that have high price tags associated with them," Deal said. "Quite frankly, I don't know what we'll face in terms of coming up with the revenue to pay for all of those promises."

Earlier in the day, voters in Hall County had mixed feelings about a possible Obama presidency.

"This is going to be a big, historic change," said 58-year-old Lydia Gale of Flowery Branch. "I think the last eight years have been a mess. (Obama) couldn't do any worse. I'm not a Democrat, but I think the Republicans have had their time."

Stacey Jones, 37, who voted Tuesday morning at Chestatee High School, said an Obama victory would disappoint her.

"I don't think he's honest," Jones said. "I don't like that he has ties to al-Qaida."

Jones said she thought there were too many unknowns about Obama to have him as president.
"There's just too many holes to fill in," she said.

Anne Finlayson, 52, said she feels similarly about Obama.

"He's had some iffy relationships," Finlayson said outside of First United Methodist Church.

Cody Clark said while he was a black voter and Obama would be the first black president, he looked beyond the politics of race.

"Besides that, I think he's the most qualified candidate," Clark said.

He also believed Obama's election would not necessarily solve all the nation's problems.

"I honestly think one president isn't going to make the economy change overnight," Clark said.

Sharon Puckett of Oakwood said she too looked beyond Obama's race.

"We have a better chance with Obama," said Puckett, who voted with her 22-year-old son at the Oakwood III precinct on McEver Road. "It's not so much racial to me as it is the economic part. I don't look on him as anything but a man and a good president."

In incomplete returns from Hall County, Republican John McCain carried Hall County over Obama by a vote of 44,913 to 14,433.