There I sat, alongside my trusty photographer Patrick Record and a slew of TV reporters, awaiting election results in Helena’s Red Lion Colonial Hotel where the state’s top Republicans mingled and awaited the devouring of their pre-made “Victory” cake.

Aside from Mr. Obama’s re-election, the results never came. Out of regional state races, perhaps only Washington counted ballots slower.

So there was plenty of time for mingling, sending scene updates and quotes from now-Attorney General-elect Tim Fox and Sandy Welch, candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction, whose fate is nearing a recount.

Expecting obvious signs from early returns, the tension ran high until we decided, six hours after we arrived, that it was time to get some sleep and stop staring at tiny numbers on a screen. Election HQ back at Don Anderson Hall decided to return to work at 6 a.m. and our early reaction reporting had been sufficient.

Here’s some of my contributed reporting at the top of this story:

Montana Public Media | Attorney General Hopefuls Await Slow Returns.

Still, showing up in my tie and bumping elbows with state officials made me proud of the line of work I’m in and excited to do it for decades to come.

Now to take advantage of that Constitutionally mandated resting time for political reporters.