BOSTON -- Chilly New England weather and the promise of a long evening have not deterred loyal John Kerry supporters from filling Copley Square in Boston in anticipation of a Kerry victory in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested election.
As the first election returns continue to pour in and flash across a big screen television over the public square, the mood remains optimistic, though as of 10 p.m., President Bush holds a 64-electoral vote lead.
A star-studded lineup of musicians including Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow and the Black Eyed Peas are out to entertain the crowd as Election Night proceeds. After an opening invocation by a Boston reverend, singer Carole King kicked off the festivities that echoed through the square.
A group of women who were one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the Sept. 11 Commission also spoke to the crowd recently, and described how they changed their allegiance from the president to his challenger.
"We thought our president would want what we wanted. We thought he would be our ally," said Kristen Breitweiser, whose husband died in the terrorist attacks. "We were wrong. We want a president who will support transparency and accountability, and do everything to keep us safe. John Kerry is our man."
Staff reporter Farouk Samad is in Boston for Election Night and will periodically be reporting from the scene in Copley Square.
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