PLYMOUTH MEETING—The atmosphere at the local UFWC union hall here versus the Plymouth Country Club was a study in contrasts.

At the union hall, where Montgomery County Democrats were gathering, the mood was all celebration and exuberance. Every time the big-screen projector TV showed Barack Obama winning another state, cheers roared from the large and growing crowd.

Just a few miles away at the country club, where their Republican counterparts were gathering, the mood was one of subdued resignation. Tables in the small ballroom were empty. County GOP chairman Bob Kerns was holding vigil with the small handful of candidates there. Many party faithful were leaving while Democrats down the road were still filing in. When networks projected that Obama would win the presidency, there were no boos and barely even sighs. Just some shrugs, and from one party member, a look on the bright side: "Well, at least the Phillies won."

What was a bad night for Republicans nationwide was by any measure a rough night for the Montgomery County Republicans, who have already endured their share of rough times in recent years. The stakes were high in a slate of down-ballot races.

All in all, of the five down-ballot seats that were considered in play, Democrats won 4. While the party avoided its worst-case scenario - thanks to a win by state Rep. Kate Harper (R-Lower Gynedd) - it failed to pick up any of the Democratic seats it was challenging. Worst of all, Democrats snatched the seat they had been targeting most heavily, as state Rep. Jay Moyer (R-Lower Salford) lost by a narrow margin.

The GOP held onto Republican seats that weren't seriously challenged, but the Democrats' delegation to Harrisburg will be bigger than it has been in years.

Easily the biggest disappointment for the GOP had to be the failure of Todd Stephens to unseat state Rep. Rick Taylor (D-Ambler). Taylor was projected to win by less than 2 points.

"We all kind of expected that Obama was going to win," Kerns said, not addressing the disappointing local returns. One rank-and-file member did it for him-"Now we have to pull ourselves out of the fire," she told her chairman.

At the union hall, Democrats only got happier as the night went on. By the time state Representative-elect Matt Bradford, having beaten Moyer, entered with state Senator-elect Daylin Leach, there were smiles all around.

"I feel great," Democratic Party chairman Marcel Groen said.

The winning candidates stood on stage with Groen, hands held high in a victorious pose for the cameras.

"This is the best night that ever happened, isn't it?" Leach, projected to beat Republican Lance Rogers in a landslide, asked the crowd to applause.

After the candidates spoke, Groen summed up the mood of the night.

"That's all folks, let's go celebrate!"