But in a suite brimming with the staunchest Republicans of a staunchly Republican state, there was no shouting. And as Obama addressed the nation, many leaned in close to a television in the corner of the room, intent on not missing this moment in history.

Behind the disappointment many McCain supporters felt Tuesday evening was a profound appreciation for a moment that, in no small part, began with the courage of a Republican president 146 years ago, when Abraham Lincoln declared all American slaves to be "forever free."

And so, even as they could not share in the glee of the moment, many from the party of Lincoln shared in its glory.

"This is definitely an amazing night," said Justin Brooks, of Orem, one of hundreds of Republicans who gathered at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City on Tuesday to celebrate GOP gains and mourn the party's losses. "America has come a long way."

While Obama's race - the nation's president-elect is the son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas - sometimes percolated to the surface of the contest, it was at most times submerged under issues of greater consequence to most Americans.

There was a war being fought on several fronts. The once-mighty economic empire was bruised and battered. The world was warming. The future was uncertain. And that made America's prejudiced past of less consequence.

John Tanner brought his 6-month-old son, Jack, and 3-year-old daughter, Ella, to the GOP gathering. Only a few minutes had passed after McCain's emotional concession, and Tanner's disappointment over his party's losses was palpable.

And yet the Salt Lake City father smiled as he envisioned a future conversation with his son about what happened in this country on this night.

"I would have to tell him, of course, that I was disappointed," Tanner said. "But there is no question that today is . . ."

He paused and considered the magnitude of the moment.

" . . . a breakthrough."

Brian Sorensen broke with many of his friends to vote for McCain. This was the first election for the 20-year-old animation student at Salt Lake Community College, and he wanted to get it right.

Sorensen saw in the Arizona senator the courage needed for a country in crisis. But he also saw in Obama a capacity for greatness - a potential Sorensen now hopes the Illinois senator can realize under difficult circumstances.

"I think that this is a great step for us," Sorensen said. "I think we've broken down a lot of the barriers we've built."

Obama broke through those barriers, Sorensen noted, by galvanizing a diverse coalition of voters behind his candidacy. And if Obama can do that, Sorensen said, "I really do think he'll be a great president."

Not everyone has such high hopes.

Salt Lake City small business owner Ted Bullen said he worries about what he sees as Obama's socialist leanings. He doesn't want the new president to "spread the wealth around," as Obama told Ohio voter Joe Wurzelbacher during a chance meeting with the now-famous plumber in Toledo.

But Bullen said he would try to reserve judgment on the new president - and said he too had found reason to be proud of "a historic and meaningful moment."

Meanwhile, Bullen's wife, Robin, had found something else: Hope for the moments ahead.

"I really do hope my worst fears are wrong," she said. "I want him to succeed because I love our country."

And even on this personally disappointing night, she loved it more than ever.

"You know," she said. "I'm really proud of us."

mlaplante@sltrib.com