The patriotic bunches of red, white, and blue balloons and the giant U.S. flag backdrop failed to disguise the grim mood of President Bush's local supporters at a GOP party last night.

The party, held at the Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston, drew hundreds of Republicans, many of whom were area university students.

Despite projections of victory for Gov. Bill Clinton, party attendees expressed optimism early in the evening. Chipp Hardt, a first year student at Harvard Business School, responded to Clinton's initial wins with, "the night is still young."

"Everyone here has been optimistic. We're waiting patiently," said Doug Mercurio, a campaign volunteer from Braintree.

Hopes Fade

Hopes were dashed, however, as the night progressed. "Ooh"s, "damn"s, and "oh no"s resounded throughout the room as electoral vote results were broadcast state by state.

The expression on the party faithful's faces told their disappointment.

"Up until 9 o'clock, I actually thought Bush would win," said Stephen M. Brown '93, a government concentrator and intern with Martin A. Linsky, chief secretary to Gov. William F. Weld '66. "Then, I looked at the electoral vote results."

"I feel personally defeated," Brown said.

Lois Butt, a resident of Boston who has worked on past Republican campaigns, said, "I'm very disappointed about Clinton's victory. I'm especially disappointed that Bush didn't take the New England states."

Partygoers also voiced sentiments of disbelief, as a president who at one time enjoyed immense popularity went down to defeat.

"If anyone told me after Desert Storm that this [Clinton's victory] would be tonight's outcome, I would not have believed it," said Sibylle Barrasso, a resident of Wellesley.

"I have no idea why people are voting for Clinton," said Fred Stimmons, a Business School graduate. "His campaign was an extraordinary collection of misrepresentations. He can't possibly keep up his promises. It's absurd. He's a buffoon."

Cliff Hittner, a senior at Northeastern University who volunteered in the stretch drive of the Republican campaign, echoed Stimmons' disbelief.

"I think this country is going to be in big trouble over the next four years. Clinton and Gore conned the American people," Hittner said.

Spirits of the disheartened Republicans were lifted briefly by the win of Peter Torkildson, the party's candidate for the sixth congressional district.

Despite Clinton's landslide victory, Republicans showed optimism for the future of their party.

"I think we ran a great race," Weld said at the end of the event, as the crowd chanted "Weld '96." "History will record George Bush as a strong president."