For Obama fans, anxiety gives way to jubilation

"I need to be there for myself," said Appiah, 49, who has spent most of his life in the Windy City. "It doesn't matter that I don't have a ticket into the rally. I just want to be there -- be as close as I can to history." The cab driver was far from alone. All day and well into the night, thousands crowded Chicago's downtown with hopes of seeing Obama.

Appiah shuttled scores of them to the park in his Checker Cab. After work, he parked, pulled on a tattered pair of sneakers and started walking.

Once Appiah entered the park, the stage was barely distinguishable above an ocean of dancing bodies and waving flags. But he could hear everything. As CNN began calling out states Obama was winning, Appiah looked skyward. Tears trickled down his cheeks. He could taste them as he smiled.

Throughout the evening, the crowd burst into chants of "Yes we can!"

But a button pinned on the lapel of one Obama supporter captured the spirit of the moment better: "Yes we did."

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michael.finnegan @latimes.com

p.j.huffstutter@latimes.com

Times staff writer Peter Nicholas contributed to this report.