Young Republicans, Dems Rub Shoulders at Carroll Gardens Election Party

"Four more beers!" came the ironic chant from the front of the Carroll Gardens bar, echoing many sentiments of predominantly Democratic Brooklyn on Election Night. 

But in the back of Ceol pub on Smith Street, Republican party members were also toasting in solidarity, trying to break down stereotypes and to cheer on the Romney/Ryan ticket.

"The stereotype is that we're all white rich guys," said Dan Nizza, a Brooklynite and 3-year member of the Brooklyn Young Republicans Club. "I'm far from an evangelical Christian, I'm not rich."

But Nizza, who had congregated along with 30 others under the leadership of BYR President Glenn Nocera, did share the belief that Mitt Romney would make a better leader of the United States than the current president.

"If Obama wins tonight, I won't be angry tomorrow," said Jason Melando, a Hoyt Street resident and member of the Republican party. "We'll deal with it. But he's been here for four years and I think it will just be more of the status quo. He needs to learn how to work with Congress."

Melando went on to say that, living in New York City, he was used to being in the minority as a Republican.

As if on cue, the crowd at Ceol became increasingly enthusiastic and vocal in response to an Obama lead. 

In fact, when NBC called the election just before 11:30 p.m., Trevor Kenmure, originally from Scotland now living in Williamsburg and celebrating his first time voting in an American election, was positively ecstatic —jumping up and down on the floor of the main room at Ceol.

"Yes!" he cheered, hugging his friend Rebecca from Prospect Heights and raising his fists in the air for nearby TV cameras. "I think Obama is a president who cares about a wider group of people."

Kenmure said he was compelled to become a citizen of the United States so that he could participate in the election process.

"Politics is crucial," he said. "There is nothing more important. If you want something, you need to vote for it."