Romney supporters feel glum, but look to the next race

By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff

At Mitt Romney's election night party at CR Sparks Restaurant and Bar in Bedford, N.H., hundreds of suporters watched glumly as the results scrolled along television screens posted throughout the ballroom.

"The people in this state are foolish," said Vinny Salerno, 75, a retired Navy veteran from Concord. "You've got a governor from Massachusetts. He's got a proven record of being a success in life and they go for someone from Arizona who wants to give amnesty to illegal immigrants. I don't know what they were thinking."

The suporters, clutching red foam baseball mitts and baseball bats, waited for Romney to make a speech. On stage, a guitarist sang a cover of John Mayer's "No Such Thing."

"Any time you don't come in first, it's somewhat of a disappointment," said Claudia Bermudez, 52, the owner of a staffing company from California, who came to volunteer on the campaign. Still, she said, "we're still in the race. We're in it for the long haul."