A big win has Menino gearing up for November

Mayor Thomas M. Menino celebrated his victory last night in true Menino fashion, eschewing fancy trappings and whizbang special effects for a quick thanks, a shout-out to his supporters, and a short ride back to Readville.

Menino, who is vying for a record fifth term, took the stage to the cheers of supporters who waved green campaign signs. He had just handily survived blistering criticism and nonstop attacks from his three challengers, and he sounded pleased but not exuberant as he exhorted campaign workers to keep pushing until the final election Nov. 3.

“Freshen those yard signs up. Knock on those doors. Watch those Twitter fingers,’’ Menino declared to applause at the headquarters of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 103. “We have 42 days. Let’s make the most of them so we can make the most of this great city.’’

In an interview after the speech, Menino said he was pleasantly surprised that he had garnered 51 percent of the vote in a hard-fought race against city councilors Sam Yoon and Michael F. Flaherty Jr. and businessman Kevin McCrea. Menino will face Flaherty in the final election.

“You run against two city councilors at large, who spent a considerable amount of money, and every time I went to a forum with them, I was the target,’’ Menino said. “They were very negative about my administration, and it’s amazing that the people of Boston, 51 percent of them, said, ‘Mayor, you’re doing a pretty good job.’ ’’

Menino was joined at the union hall by family, city workers, and dozens of longtime supporters who praised his workmanlike leadership.

“Is he 100 percent perfect?’’ said one supporter, Andy Donovan, a 76-year-old retiree from South Boston. “No. But he did a nice job.’’

The mayor’s supporters vowed to turn their attention now to the task of wooing Boston voters who didn’t participate in yesterday’s preliminary election or voted for a candidate other than Menino.

“He doesn’t leave here tonight satisfied,’’ said Mike Monahan, business manager of the electrical workers union. “He looks at that 51 percent and he thinks, ‘Why didn’t that 49 percent want to vote for me?’ ’’

Menino rode to victory with the help of voters like Charles Indingaro, 66, who expressed appreciation that Menino pays attention to the city’s neighborhoods, the characteristic for which Menino is perhaps best known.

“Look around - look up in West Roxbury, all the new housing he’s put in there,’’ Indingaro, a retired Sears employee, said after voting in Jamaica Plain earlier in the day.

“And every year, he gives us a Christmas tree out here. He comes down and sings carols. It’s nice.’’