Hillary Rodham Clinton's narrow victory in New Hampshire could mean that Maryland's Feb. 12 primary will still matter - all of which cheered Pam Guzzone on election night as the Clinton supporter helped her husband, Del. Guy Guzzone, host a party for more than 130 Barack Obama supporters at their home.
"I'm actually at this place where - Huh? What happened with all these polls?" Pam Guzzone said, referring to predictions that Clinton would lose in New Hampshire.
Weeks before the Iowa caucuses, Guy Guzzone asked his wife, even though she backs Clinton, if she would agree to have a couple of dozen of his fellow Obama backers over to their Columbia home to watch the New Hampshire results Tuesday night.
After Obama's Iowa victory, though, the Guzzone home became a destination place.
Early in the evening, with minimal returns available, Obama's state campaign co-chairman, Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, told the crowd not to be fooled by the early results. He predicted a 10-point victory for Obama before leaving to spend the rest of the evening with his family.
Gansler, like David Marker, the Howard County organizer for Obama, said they see the Illinois senator as no ordinary candidate.
Standing near Obama in Iowa, Gansler said that: "I felt like a 12-year old. I was mesmerized by the man. Here, we've got a guy who is so inspirational."
He said Howard County "has been the political fulcrum for the state" Obama organization.
The election party also drew state Sen. James N. Robey, and County Council members Jen Terrasa and Calvin Ball - all declared Obama backers.
County Executive Ken Ulman and his family stopped by, too, though Ulman has remained neutral. He said he would love to be more involved but didn't commit himself.
"This signals my support of all my friends who are supporting Obama," Ulman said about his presence.
Several attendees said that as long as Clinton and Obama finished a close first and second in New Hampshire, which they did, who was first and who was second didn't matter much for the long haul. Others sharply disagreed.
"In reality, it doesn't [matter], but there's perception that's important," said Marker, a statistician. "You like to win."
Guy Guzzone said he felt that Obama is in the ballgame, which is what counts at this stage.
Robey agreed. "There are many states [to go] yet," he said.
Obama supporters said their man did well.
