Obama supporters cheer showing in Utah

About 35 Barack Obama supporters at the Skybox Bar and Grille at the Gateway in Salt Lake City cheered when NBC called the Utah Democratic race for Obama soon after 8 p.m. Tuesday.

As the Obama party gathered steam and more backers arrived in front of the three vast TV screens, the whooping was even louder when the network called Kansas for their candidate, by a wide margin.

Asked for a comment, Megan Riffe, Salt Lake City, shouted, "Go Obama!"

Riffe indicated she's delighted by the number of the Democratic turnout.

"We're just really excited about how many people turned out to vote for Hillary and Obama," she added.

"I didn't vote today," said Sean Sasso, Sandy. "I voted early, for Barack."

By the end of the night, he said, it's possible Clinton will take more delegates.

"But I think it's going to be close" nationally. But he was certain of Obama's win in Utah because of reaction he's heard "with the phone calls I've made today."

Jeremiah Roth, a 31-year-old Salt Lake City man, said he supports Obama because he's an exciting candidate. Clinton, he said, "would be more of the same."

The election is important, said Heather Culligan, Salt Lake City, "because our country's in a very difficult spot, and the direction we go from here is pretty critical. We're in one war, ready to begin at least one."

America is in an important turning point, she said. "We need somebody who can take us in a new direction."

The excitement level bounced higher as the minutes counted down toward the close of the California polls.

"It's a very good night," said Misty Fowler, Salt Lake City. "We have been at this for a year." The Utah Obama effort started with 40 people meeting at the Gallivan Center, she said.

That was six days after Obama announced he was running for president.

"It's just grown and grown," Fowler said. "It's thrilling to know that it can and will get better, and this is how it happens." She does not feel that Super Tuesday would decide the nomination. That may be "up in the air until August."

Theodore Cowan, Salt Lake City, 24, has traveled to Nevada to help the Obama campaign there. "The results for Utah are exactly what we wanted," he said happily. The results nationally "there are no upsets. Everything's OK."

Clinton was speaking when the California polls closed. NBC news, showing on one of the three huge screens, said California was too close to call for either party.

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E-mail: bau@desnews.com