News4's Shani Hilton live-blogged the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee election watch party at the Liason Capitol Hill Hotel.
12:50 a.m. - The only people left are the folks cleaning up the party space and a few reporters. Attendees of the DCCC party didn't even stick around to see Romney concede. A blast of the Black Eyed Peas and they were gone.
11:25 p.m. Hugs, cheers, and chants of "Four More Years" capped off an upbeat night at the DCCC party as NBC projected a Barack Obama win for president. "I can't believe it was so [expletive] fast," shouted one man. Senate Majority Leader (and going by the seats picked up by Dem senate candidates) Senate Majority Leader-to-be Harry Reid noted rather mildly, "Things like this happen when your number one goal is to defeat the president and not get legislation passed."
10:52 p.m. - A line of not-Very Important People are sitting along the press risers -- tired looking, but sticking the night out. Those on their feet crowd opposite corners of the room, where televisions broadcast continue to broadcast results. At NBC projecting an Obama win in Minnesota, the crowd cheers, not that the projection is particularly surprising. When the door to a side VIP room, guarded by a tall staffer, opens, we can hear laughter and celebratory clinking of glasses. As Kaine is projected to win the Virginia Senate seat, the cheers and clapping roll through the room.
9:59 p.m. - The crowd is smaller but hardy. Dems are rotating between the cash bar and the television screen. Democrats and the president have pulled off wins in key states and the mood is high. DSCC Executive Director Guy Cecil pops back into the press room to give a smaller update. "We are encouraged," Cecil says, and cautiously optimistic that Nevada Sen. Harry Reid will remain Senate Majority Leader come 2013.
9:44 p.m. - More huge cheers as NBC calls Massachusetts and Indiana senate races for Democrats.
9:30 p.m.- Huge cheers as Wisconsin is called.
9:10 p.m. - Now it's a party -- and not just because the DJ is playing "Glad You Came." Rep. Steny Hoyer, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Rep. Steve Israel are downright joyous over the returns, limited though they may be. "We are feeling upbeat and we are feeling good," Israel told the buoyant crowd, to many a "woo!" Pelosi made an analogy to the San Francisco Giants' World Series win, calling Democratic Voters "Team USA." May the church say "woo!"
8:36 p.m. - Perhaps out of concerns about keeping information-hungry journalists away from the actual party, the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee sends in Executive Director Guy Cecil to address the press room filing with a brief update. "We obviously have a long way to go in terms of getting results in," Cecil says. But he is optimistic about Florida, Maine, and Massachusetts. Cecil also echoes what everyone is saying about Virginia. "As you know, Virginia has been one of the closest senate races throughout the cycle ... My suspicion is it will be awhile before a lot of those votes come in."
8:19 p.m. - "Big Willie Style" may be playing on the speaker system, but it doesn't feel terribly festive just yet. The ballroom is about one third full, and we'd estimate 100-150 people are mingling and chatting, sipping and snacking. A small contingent of returns watchers are crowded around a flat screen in the corner, watching, to our horror, CNN.
7:38 p.m.- While the ballroom remains empty of everyone but the press, the open bar/atrium is starting to fill with young Dem staffers. No big names yet. In the press room everyone is facing straight ahead, watching the returns trickle in.
6:30 p.m. - No one is here yet but people are expected to speak around 8.
