The election hub might be at the Westmark Hotel in downtown Fairbanks, but the place to be for mellow conversation, a safe environment, and a good beer, too... would be the UAF Pub.

CNN is scrolling on the big screen in the center of the Pub, and off to a brightly-lit side room.  Chicago's WGN (widely available on Alaska cable) is on a smaller mounted television up near a shelf adorned with a classy collection of vintage beer bottles.  Halloween decorations still stream from one corner of the ceiling to another.  Spiderwebs, skeletons and ghosts still creep across the walls.

I'm sitting at a table with Paul, Kenny, Tyler, Tyson, Madison, Alex and Jason... all Obama supporters.  Despite the fact that I'm a McCain-Palin supporter, we're having beers, politely chiding back and forth about our choice in candidate (me being the far-outnumbered one, and that's okay!), and chit-chatting about what we do.  My night is going to show that politics is nothing to take personally.  My humble opinion, really.

As the taps pour out and people pile into the Pub, the volume gets louder.  As the panel on CNN dissects, collects and rocks and rolls, people play pool, chat with friends, and eat the beloved nachos this establishment serves up.

Really, it's like any other night at the Pub... except maybe the conversation topics have changed.  People are just as cheerful, friendly, and outgoing as on a normal night at the Pub.

Although, with votes so far projected in favor of Barack Obama, I can't find a single McCain supporter willing to come out and tell me of his or her support... and everyone else seems to be in good spirits.