Minutes before the polls closed in Iowa, approximately 200 Democrats are mingling in the ballroom of the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

At the Election Night party headquarters for the Obama Iowa campaign, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, and U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, the mood is not one of nervousness.

"We could not be in a better position right now," Iowa Democratic Party press secretary Brooke Borkenhagen said. "I can't imagine what things are like over in at the Republicans' party."

Right at 9 p.m. as polls closed, the TV networks called Iowa for Democrat Barack Obama and there was a small eruption of applause at the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

Labels: 2008_election