From Richard Meryhew:

Independent Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner's election-night bash at the Sheraton West Hotel started at 7 o'clock sharp with a run of 50s tunes by the Rockin' Hollywoods. Included in the first set -- Buddy Holly's "That'll Be The Day" and Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel." The crowd was still sparse – about 15 supporters initially – and Horner had yet to arrive from dinner with his family. Nevertheless, several party goers gathered to sing and dance amid a ballroom filled with blue and orange balloons and the "Horner for Governor" signs. Horner entered the hotel shortly before 8 p.m. and was mobbed by supporters in the lobby. The star of the hour, he posed for photographs with about a half dozen supporters telling each "Make sure it's a good one. Make sure." He was upbeat and relaxed, smiling as he greeted and hugged supporters. "I feel good," he said. "We ran the campaign I wanted to run. And I think people responded to that. I knew from the get-go what a daunting challenge it was to run for governor under the best of circumstances… "Whatever happens today…I'll stay involved one way or another." Among those who showed early were Sally Paulsen (cq), the treasurer of the Independent Party and her sons, Jay, 19, and Johnny, 15, both of whom eyed the spread of chips, hot dogs and burgers before taking seats just off the dance floor. "I'm nervous," Sally Paulsen said. "It's a nervous energy. We have the candidate that everybody likes. It's just whether the voters have the courage to say it, too." Sarah Youngerman, 41, of St. Paul, shared the emotion. "I want to be optimistic," Youngerman said. "My Facebook page tells me that there are a lot of people out there who are voting for Tom Horner. But it's a tough climb. And I don't want to be sad yet." Dean Barkley, a former U.S. senator and the Independent Party candidate for the U.S. Senate two years ago, said Horner "still has a shot to pull it off. If the undecideds break his way. If that happens, he could win. But will he win? I have no idea."