Embassy Marks US Elections with 12-Hour Event, as Obama Declared Winner

November 5, 2008

The Embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce co-hosted a 12-hour election watch and breakfast forum event at the Carlton Hotel on November 4-5. During the night, Barack Obama was declared winner of the US Presidential Elections, with 349 Electoral College votes to 147 for his rival candidate, John McCain. The Election Night party kicked off with remarks by Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik and AmCham President Róbert Šimončič, followed by performances by local bluegrass band, Stressed Hedgehog. One highlight of the evening was a mock election for Slovak guests to vote for their favorite American candidate; Obama won this local election, 70-50.  Many guests chose to stay and watch the US election returns overnight. The following morning, Ambassador Obsitnik and Mr. Šimončič co-hosted a panel discussion with special commentators, former Ambassadors to the US Martin Bútora and Rastislav Káčer, analyzing the election results from both an American and Slovak perspective. An audience of business people and students in Košice participated in the morning discussion via digital video conference from InfoUSA Košice at the State Scientific Library. National television station TA3 also broadcast live from the Bratislava election event site.

• Ambassador Obsitnik's remarks on the US elections
• Read about the US Presidential Elections
• Coverage of Embassy election events:   STV  |  TA3  | SME
• Photos from Election Night to Download