In the midst of it all, Gabrieli took a concession call from Lois G. Pines, the runner-up in the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, and offered knowing advice.

“Enjoy your morning off [tomorrow],” he said over his cell phone between TV interviews.

Surprise Second

Across town in Cambridge, the “Reich Reform Express” came to a halt six weeks ahead of schedule last night.

He had conducted a grassroots effort on his blue bus, which he called the “Reich Reform Express,” and generated widespread support on the Harvard campus.

But the 300 Reich supporters gathered at the Cambridge VFW Post last night remained resilient to the end, even as Tolman and Birmingham conceded.

As Reich entered the hall just after 11 p.m., onlookers shouted, “We want Bob!” to which Reich replied, “Well, you’re not going to get me.”

He immediately endorsed O’Brien and thanked his campaign staff, among them a half-dozen Harvard students who worked as interns over the summer.

He emphasized their impact on the campaign and on state politics as a whole, saying the opportunity remained for students to make a difference in the party agenda.

“The party is nothing more and nothing less than the people who belong to it,” he said. “To the extent to which students—particularly progressive students—remain involved the party will become more progressive and it will reflect students’ ideals.”

This was the first political campaign for many Reich volunteers, and for them last night brought disappointment but not disillusionment.

“I’m...disappointed but holding my head high. The reality is that I think we had quite a run,” said Eliot J. Rushovich ’03, who drove the campaign bus this summer.

Rushovich also said he and many of his fellow Reich campaign workers would actively work to help O’Brien.

“The reality is that I don’t think any of us really want to see Romney win the gubernatorial race in November,” he said.

Reich, along with Birmingham and Tolman, will gather for a “Unity News Conference” at the Omni Parker House tomorrow morning to rally support for O’Brien.