Ron Williams had hoped for big change.

Williams’ grandfather lived in North Carolina 40 years ago and did not receive an education beyond fifth grade. Tuesday, Williams, a member of Rep. Brad Miller’s staff in the Greensboro office, said he was proud to be voting for the first black president in a state that once oppressed his grandfather.

“When I was little, my dad said that I could be anything I wanted to be, except president of the United States,” Williams said. “Now I guess I can do anything.”

Ryan Hedgepeth, Miller’s Chief of Staff and one of the few black men to hold that position on Capitol Hill, said he favored the direction the election seemed to be going.

“This election shows how great America can be,” Hedgepeth said. “Obama is the right man for the time, and America has grown enough as a country to elect him.”

And America did exactly that. As Barack Obama was announced the 44th President of the United States, the party continued into the early hours of the morning. The wait was over.

“I’m glad Obama won, but I wish people would stop saying negative things about our new black president,” T’lissa Elliott, a freshman in mathematics, said. “It’s about what he will do for our country, not his race.”

Before the announcement was made, aticipation was building, anxiety was growing and the fervor was rising as Democrats gathered at the North Carolina Democratic Party’s victory party to await the returns from the 2008 elections.

Hospitality rooms filled with campaign, staff, friends, family and supporters who were backing their candidates as the election continued.

Crowds of people gathered around various televisions set up around the Marriott in downtown Raleigh, listening intently as numbers and percentages rolled in. And the results pleased the party.

“Democrats are winning up and down,” Rep. Brad Miller said.  “Americans want a change.”

Emotions ran wild as Democrats celebrated with the announcement of every party winner and grew more apprehensive as they waited to see which way the swing states would go.

“Democrats are a team for change, and the leader of that team is Barack Obama,” Rep. David Price said. “We are going to deal with the issues of today instead of endless bickering.”

As results started coming in, people started celebrating more intensely. Representatives Brad Miller, David Price and Bob Etheridge and newly-elected Governor Bev Perdue were greeted with signs and music and more cheering as they took the stage to make their acceptance speeches after their victories.

After state elections were decided, Democrats waited around to see how the presidential election would end.