Blue and red
in Montreal

>>Americans aren’t the only
ones planning to party on Nov. 4

by PATRICK LEJTENYI

With each passing day, week and poll indicating a Democratic victory for Barack Obama on Tuesday, Nov. 4’s election in the States, the same thought is going through the minds of the thousands of political observers in this city: where to drink when the results come in? If you want to either pop a cork in celebration or drink yourself into a depressed stupor, Montreal’s busy bar scene is as good a place as any to watch the U.S. election results pile in. (For extra fun, you can invent drinking games based on the electoral college, swing states or media clichés—see sidebar!)

While not many places are holding special election night events, it’s a good bet most TV-equipped bars will be airing the results. “There’s not a Canadiens game that night, right?” asks a bartender at St-Laurent sports temple Champ’s. “And the World Series will be finished…. Yeah, we’ll probably put it on one of the big screens. We showed the debates, so why not the election? But the best thing to do is to give us a call.”

Mark Markies, a manager at Hurley’s Irish Pub on Crescent, is expecting a group of American Concordia students to show up. The event will be apolitical. “It’ll be good entertainment,” he says.

If you are in the mood for some partisan celebration, there are two big events to check out. The first, and arguably rowdier, one will be the Americans Abroad party at the Burgundy Lion (2496 Notre-Dame W.) in Little Burgundy. The party is organized by the local chapter of Democrats Abroad, so you can be pretty sure of the tone of the evening. Republicans, independents, libertarians and most all others will be welcome, assures Luke McSweeney of Democrats Abroad Montreal, who says that, barring a terrorist attack or some kind of massive disaster, an Obama victory is all but assured. CNN will be showing on the bar’s 72” flat screen, with audio and no cover charge. Drinking starts at 7 p.m.

Further east and up the hill at the Opus Hotel (10 Sherbrooke W.), Martine St-Victor, the president of the Groupe Milagro advertising/events/PR agency who says she is “very political,” will be hosting a “Cocktails & Obama” evening for “Barackanistas and Politicos.” They will be tuning in to CNN as well, but the soirée will also feature a live Web cast at www.canadaforobama.ca. “We’ll welcome McCain supporters and independents, but [the event is] pro-Obama. There is no reason to hide my preference.” She also says Canadian politicians, especially in the last snore, could learn a thing or two from our southern neighbours to make politics more engaging. Similar events will take place in Toronto, Vancouver, Paris and Brisbane, Australia. Cover is $10, with music by Godfather D, and runs from 6 –11 p.m.

No matter the night, Republicans in Montreal are a rare breed, and on Nov. 4, the only ones visible will be either masochistic, incredibly brave or both. There won’t be any pro-McCain events in Montreal, says Kelli Wright, the Toronto-based spokesperson for Republicans Abroad Canada. Montreal, it seems, is like Michigan this year—the GOP is ceding it as hopelessly unwinnable, and no one wants to be the local point person to talk to the media about the impending electoral disaster.