Elections

Democratic Chicago crowd jeers Romney as he concedes

Neil Munro White House Correspondent
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CHICAGO — Many among President Barack Obama’s horde of enthusiastic supporters at his victory party in Chicago’s McCormick Place began jeering once Gov. Mitt Romney appeared on television.

Those jeers — and some cheers — began just before 12.00 a.m. CST when the unsuccessful GOP contender walked out to make his concession speech following narrow losses in Virginia, Ohio and Florida.

The hostile reaction from a loud minority in the audience reflected Obama’s sharply negative campaign strategy, which ended with him urging his supporters to take “revenge” by voting against Romney.

The mixed jeers and cheers turned to roaring approval as the crowd recognized that he was conceding the race to Obama.

But the catcalls quickly returned as Romney thanked his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, before falling mostly silent as Romney thanked his supporters, donors and staff.

The cheers returned when Romney declared that “I believe in America, I believe in the people of America” — but abated quickly when Romney concluded his speech with a declaration that “our principles endure… [and are] the only sure guide” to a better economy.

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