Rockland Officials Sound off on Presidential Race

Barack Obama will win New York’s 29 electoral votes on Tuesday, defeating Republican Mitt Romney, CNN, CBS, The Wall Street Journal, NBC and the New York Times are reporting.

Romney and Obama did not campaign aggressively in New York. The state has typically been a Democratic stronghold in recent presidential elections.

While the crushing blow Hurricane Sandy dealt the New York Metro region had some worried about turnout, across the region locals did what they could to get out to vote, though thousands still remain without power and a gas shortage continues.

The Rockland Democratic Committee met up at Town & Country in Congers to watch the election results roll in. 

"It looks extremely close. I've been a strong supporter of President Obama," said NY Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski. "Unfortunately, we're looking at the same handful of (swing) states. We'll see what happens. I think the president ran a good race and Mitt Romney also ran a good race."

"It's really exciting. From what I see around the county, there was a high voter turnout. The more people that vote, the better," said NY Senator David Carlucci. "While recovering from this horrific storm, people fought to get out to the polls. It shows the strenth and resiliance of the people of Rockland.

Over in Blauvelt, the Rockland Republican Committee gathered at Casa Mia. 

"I think Romney's going to win big tonight," said Joseph Gravagna, who is running against Ellen Jaffee for State Assembly. "He has a better organization, clearer message and I think people know the country is heading in the wrong direction. I think it's going to be a long night, but once it's over, the people will have picked Romney."

"This is the most important election of our lifetime," said Joe Carvin, who is running against Nita Lowey for U.S. House of Representatives District 17. "It really is and I'm very hopeful that we win tonight. I guess it's not looking as good as we want it to early on, but you know what? Everybody can go home tonight and say, 'we gave it everything we had.' Everybody can go home tonight and say, 'we fought the good fight.' You know what? If we lose tomorrow morning, we get up, we dust ourselves off and we get fighting again because we're fighting for the United States of America, the land that we love and people we believe in."