Cake untouched as Aussie Harris supporters’ confidence quickly evaporated

The mood at an election night watch party hosted by Australians in Brooklyn went from cautiously optimistic to despondent within hours as poll results came in.

The mood at an election night watch party hosted by Australians in Brooklyn went from cautiously optimistic to despondent within hours as poll results came in.

Champagne was bought. A cake with “Yes she can” sat on the drinks table.

In the backyard a life-size cardboard cut-out of the Democratic ticket of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz stood smiling at guests as they watched results on a giant screen.

The watch party was hosted by Australian couple Meggie Palmer and Ryan Hamilton for a group of about 20 friends including Americans and Australians.

The confidence of Harris supporters evident early in the night quickly evaporated, with one remarking, “I didn’t think this would happen.”

The untouched Yes She Can cake.. Picture: Chad Van Estrop

The life-size cardboard cut-out of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Picture: Chad Van Estrop

Just after 11pm local time, Ms Palmer, a former Australian journalist turned founder of an online coaching platform for female executives, said the election results felt “a little worrying”.

“I think at this point anything is possible, who knows how many lawsuits we’ll have before we get a final result,” she said.

“I’m feeling apprehensive, but respectfully waiting for the official results.”

Half an hour later, just four guests remained at the watch party and the “Yes she can” cake sat untouched.

Ms Palmer had spent recent months canvassing for the Harris campaign and on election day was in Bucks County, Pennsylvania – a swing county within a swing state.

“One American who I spoke to … was so emotional and having a big falling out with some family members over the election,” she said.

“Obviously elections always divide a country but it was interesting to see it literally divide streets as well as families. You could see the Trump and Harris signs side-by-side.”

A watch party was hosted by Australian couple, and Kamala Harris supporters, Meggie Palmer and Ryan Hamilton. Picture: Chad Van Estrop

Ms Palmer said this election was the one she had been most involved with at home or abroad.

“This election really feels like an election of human rights and women’s rights in particular. The ability for women and families to make a choice over their bodies, and over decisions that are important to their family.”

Mr Hamilton, who writes the Kangaroo Politics blog and who worked in the Gillard government, had cracked open a bottle of Scotch when he reflected on the results.

“It’s a despondent evening. The results have not gone the way that I imagined they would,” he said.

“There were seven states that no one knew what was going to happen and all seven look to have leaned towards Trump, but we’re still talking about very small numbers of voters in each of those jurisdictions.

“The way American politics works is each of these states is winner takes all, and 10, 20 or 30,000 people can decide the election in electorates where we’re talking about millions of people.

“None of (the swing) states have been formally called by most of the networks. So until they are, it’s not over.”