I’d heard about this video, but in the groundswell of news, I never got a chance to look at it until today.
This is what winning looks like, and feels like. Ever time I watch this video, at the crucial moment when they found out that they’ve defeated an effort to put a gay marriage ban in the Minnesota state constitution – the first such victory ever – I get chills.
It’s 1:45am early Wednesday morning following election night. Campaign manager for the good guys, Richard Carlborn, is informing the crowd that the election is too close to call, and that folks should get a good night’s sleep, when suddenly the campaign’s communications director, Kelly Schwinghammer gets a phone call or something – you can hear a beep – everyone stops, looks at her, and she says, “The AP just called it.”
The entire room explodes.
Here are a few screen shots of the video, right before and during the moment. You’ll want to watch the video from around 2:45 on (video is at the bottom of this page). Descriptions are below each screen shot.
It’s 1:45am: “Campaign Manager Richard Carlbom of Minnesotans United for All Families announced to campaign staff and board members that the vote on the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota was too close to call.”
Then there’s a dinging sound, and everyone freezes. In the left corner you can see the campaign’s communications director Kelly Schwinghammer apparently receiving a phone call.
All eyes are turn to the campaign’s communications director Kelly Schwinghammer.
Communications director Kelly Schwinghammer tells everyone: “The AP just called it.” Campaign manager Richard Carlborn thrusts his arms into the air and screams. The room goes wild.
The room explodes into a blur of joy.
Blurs of joy.
And here’s the video:
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