He won.
Against all odds, Donald Trump, a wealthy New York businessman, has been elected the 45th president of the United States, leaving the world in shock in the process.
For the Bull-Moose Party, it was a night filled with socializing, prayer and rejoicing as the results slowly dripped in Trump’s favor.
Earlier in the day, Bull-Moose Party members campaigned both on and off campus, knocking on doors one last time, making phone calls, and rallying people near the entrance of Alumni Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center, where students that live on or near campus go to cast their votes.
Their red “Make America Great Again” hats made them stand out, and one Trump supporter even wore a silicone mask that resembled Trump. Ed Cottrill, a freshman at Penn State, said that he wore the mask for Halloween and wore it one last time while the election was still in people’s minds. What seemed to scare Trump supporters last night, however, was a continuation of an Obama presidency.
“We’ve been suffering for eight years to revive this world and revive this country with the election of Donald Trump. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen,” said Robert Morss.
Right after his leading prayer, a young female Trump supporter, who peeked during the closed-eye ceremonial, quipped, “Um, Donald Trump just won Ohio.”
Immediately, the group of about 15 people roared in delight.
The good news continued in sprinkles for them throughout the night. After Ohio, Trump was then called the victor in Idaho, North Carolina, Utah, Florida (Florida, Florida), Iowa, Georgia, Wisconsin, and then, at 1:40 a.m., the Associated Press called Pennsylvania for Trump, the first time a Republican has won the commonwealth in 28 years.
As soon as Bull-Moose Party Secretary Dom DeCinti called Pennsylvania for Trump, several Trump supporters asked rhetorically if he had really won the state. A few minutes later, Fox News confirmed the win and the group jumped from their seats in rapturous cheers.
Later, Bull-Moose Party member Kyle Dulski led another prayer, in which he pleaded for a Trump win. “We pray to god that you deliver us this election. If that’s not the plan, then so be it,” he said. “But please, I know Hillary Clinton, and I know what she’s going to do, and I believe that she is absolutely wrong in everything that she does.”
“For hundreds of years we have stood as a city on a hill to the rest of the world. We have shown Europe what it means to be a true democracy,” continued Dulski, who has been a vocal supporter of the Trump campaign since last year when the now president-elect announced his candidacy.
“Please, god, please, help us win this election.”
When the race was called for Trump at around 2:30 a.m., there were only a few Trump supporters left in the room, but once again, the men were jubilant.
Beyond the hugging and yelling, Baker added some predictions of Trump’s win and eventual transition. “I think the next 10 days you’re going to see incredible fallout,” he said. “Financially, the general response on television is going to show incredible fallout,” he detailed, “I’m curious to see what Obama says and how Hillary concedes because this is complete change in a regard that no one’s ever seen. This is a true transition of power.”
Baker also believes that the group had a hand in Trump’s historic win in Pennsylvania. “I think us building the wall around the American flag had far reaching implications.”
He said he thinks the HUB’s polling place (the largest in the state), played a role in turning out support for Trump. Back in August, Dmitri Loutsik, former Chairman of the Bull-Moose Party told the Daily Collegian that the goal for the group was to get within 1,500 votes of Hillary Clinton. With 100 percent of the votes counted, the group has achieved their goal.
Baker believes the wall demonstration helped alleviate the stigma of supporting Trump. “I think we made people unafraid to vote for Donald Trump,” Baker said.
So what’s next for Trump and for the Bull-Moose Party? Some members of the group mentioned plans to attend president-elect Trump’s inauguration. But also, one more thing.
“Make America great again,” he responded.
