Students gathered in the University Union Tuesday night to watch Sen. Barack Obama defeat Sen. John McCain and win the presidential election.

The night marked the end of an almost two year campaign.

Early on neither candidate had an advantage, but the tide began to shift when the networks called Ohio for Obama. The state proved the turning point in the 2004 election when President Bush won it by about 118,000 votes. Obama also won Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico and Virginia, all states Kerry lost in 2004.

“So many things are on the line,” said Jennon Martinez, senior philosophy major. Martinez said he supported Obama because he provided the greatest utilitarianism — the most good for the greatest amount of people.

The crowd thinned as it became clear that McCain had no chance of victory. More students came in to watch when McCain took the stage in Phoenix to concede the race and when Obama’s gave his speech in Chicago’s Grant Park.

The room was exuberant after NBC called the race for Obama. Kelsey Adams, junior psychology major, was so excited she stood up periodically to dance and shout.

“I’ve never been as involved in something as I am now with this,” Adams said. “I’m actually getting emotional with this. It’s the fact that our country can actually see somebody as being just a person and not a person of color, that type of thing.”

Obama captured California’s 54 electoral votes decisively — as was expected — and won crucial swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida that McCain needed.

“It still hasn’t sunken in yet,” said Elizabeth Mesghina, senior health science major.

Joaquin Castaneda, director of the Office of Governmental Affairs, said that he wanted to provide a place for students to view the election on campus. He said having these kind of events are important because they help make Sacramento State less of a commuter school where students are disconnected from campus.

“We wanted to open up this room for them so they can see history unfold on the big screen,” Castaneda said.

Sam Pearson can be reached at [email protected]