New Yorkers and tourists from around the world cheered Barack Obama at election viewing parties around the five boroughs, and celebrated as results came in through the night on huge screens in Times Square and Rockefeller Plaza. Read more…

One Manhattanite told us she ‘put on blue underwear’ in anticipation of a victory for Obama. Curious to know how other people were celebrating, we asked some of the elated Obama supporters to share their thoughts after a few ‘Obama-Mama’ cocktails:

Kathrin, 29, Germany
It’s exciting to be here. Europe has a bias for Obama, and I’m not sure if it’s because he’s a minority or more liberal. I was worried that there would be riots in the street if Obama didn’t win.

Aaron Rich, 29, Brooklyn
I figured that in New York it wouldn’t be hard to find a bar full of democrats.

Asanka Demel, 35, Manhattan
This is the first time a minority candidate has become a President, and it’s a much larger win than I expected. Hopefully, Obama will be gracious in the victory and actually do something useful.

Jon Ocana, 22, Connecticut
Being a young voter, you get a bad rap. For the first time, I felt appreciated. I’m not sure how late I’ll stay up tonight, since I have class in the morning, but I will call my grandparents to tell them I voted.

Sonia Jareno, 30, Paris
I planned the trip to New York just to be here for the election. I’m crying because I’m not sure that a black President will be possible in France.

Dustin, 32, Brooklyn
I’m celebrating the end of Bush and I want to be around people as excited about each little victory as I am.

Frank, 40, Brooklyn
I can’t believe there’s a line outside the bar…people are just coming in to get election results. It’s not like it’s a schwanky club.

New Yorker Leah Fried hosted an election party for her fellow Obama supporters
at Bounce Deuce, a pub in the East Village.

Tell us what was happening on your street last night? Share you election-night experience in the comments area below.