NEW YORK, Nov. 3—John Kerry conceded the presidential election this morning, phoning George Bush to offer his congratulations after holding out overnight for the last votes to be counted in Ohio, Iowa and New Mexico.

The Democratic senator then appeared before supporters in Boston, telling them that it was time for the country to “begin the healing.”

"In an American election there are no losers because whether or not our candidates are successful, the next morning we all wake up as Americans and that is the greatest privilege and the most remarkable good fortune that can come to us on earth," Kerry said. "With that gift comes obligation. In the days ahead, we must find common cause. We must join in common effort without remorse or recrimination, without anger or rancor."

Bush responded by calling Kerry a “worthy and admirable opponent” and, appealing to those who had voted for the senator, pledging that he would “do all I can do to deserve your trust.”

“We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us, and when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America," Bush said in a televised speech.

Though several media outlets drew comparisons between the 2000 election and this one, the popular vote was never in question, as Bush took a slight lead that continued to grow throughout the evening and into the early hours of the morning.

As in 2000, Democrats failed to win any Southern states, losing New Mexico to Republicans. Besides a Democratic win in New Hampshire this year, little changed from the electoral map of four years ago. As expected, Kerry won New York state with nearly 58 percent of the vote.

But while Republicans celebrated Kerry’s defeat as a step in the right direction for the country and the war on terror, many local Democrats reacted with dismay, saying that four more years of Bush will spell disaster for the nation and for the institution of democracy itself.

“There is a kind of mass dementia going on,” said Margaret Weber an audiologist at Jacobi Medical Center who worked at a Democratic phone bank on Election Day, calling residents in Ohio and reminding them to vote. “The Bush administration is so wrongheaded in every way.” Weber pointed to Bush’s environmental and education records as well as right-wing fundamentalism as examples.

Others said they fear that Bush might see getting re-elected as an opportunity to do whatever he wants, citing past grievances with the administration. “We will lose more freedom, like we have been for the last four years,” said Gina Stahlnecker, the director of cultural affairs for New York’s senate minority leader. Potential appointments to the Supreme Court troubled her, as did the Patriot Act. “They now don’t need proof to search your property. I feel that we’ll be living in a police state soon.”

As the results rolled in last night, New Yorkers gathered in Times Square, staring at the CNN and NBC view screens. “One-twelve Kerry;155, Bush,” one passerby said, glancing at the tally of electoral votes on the screen as the polls closed yesterday at 9 p.m. She crossed the street, shaking her head. “I hope we still get Pennsylvania.”

New Yorkers knew that the state would file with the ranks of the Democratic Party, but across Manhattan, at bars, community organizations—even on the streets and subways—the same questions echoed from the lips of the Democrat faithful: Would this election be decided after Election Day by a handful of electors?

“I’m terrified—I’m freaking out,” said the State Assemb. Scott Stringer (D, Manhattan), who won his bid for re-election yesterday. “The whole country will be decided by people not from New York. It’s really scary.”

Stringer joined U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D, Manhattan), and State Assemb. Darryl Towns (D, Brooklyn), who also won their re-election bids, and City Council President Gifford Miller at the Community Free Democrats’ election-watch party in Manhattan’s West Side Brewery. Around them, club members chatted noisily about close races, predictions, and voter turnout.

“I’m very nervous,” said Jason Haber, the president of Community Free Democrats. He glanced at a U.S. map mounted on a whiteboard propped against the wall; as states fell to a party, members colored them blue for Democrats or red for Republicans. “I’m holding out hope for Kerry to take Ohio,” Haber said. “We’ll lose Florida, but if we win Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio we might take the nation.” He stared at the TV screens, and tapped his feet in agitation. “It looks like it will be a long night.”

At the McManus Democratic Association in Midtown, cheers briefly erupted as CNN announced that Pennsylvania’s electors ceded to Kerry. According to Paul Bokun, vice president of the association, this race was especially contentions because many felt that the election was stolen from them in 2000. If the same thing happened this year, things could get violent, he said. “I hate to quote France, but Marie Antoinette said ‘Let them eat cake’ and the people revolted. The same could happen here.”

Meanwhile Republicans gathered in Midtown’s Salisbury Hotel for a party hosted by the New York Young Republicans Club. Hotel employees began turning people away shortly after the party’s official start at 9 p.m., saying the crowd packed inside the reserved suite was already close to violating the fire code.

A psychology test and lecture didn’t stop New York University student Monica Monzingo, 19, from keeping track of election results earlier in the evening. Her friends carried a portable radio into the lecture hall and alerted her whenever Bush won another state, she said. But being a Republican in New York has definitely been a startling experience for this Texan, who came from undeniable Bush country to a college campus where people are challenging her political stance.

“Here being Republican makes you different,” Monzingo said. “We’re walking around with [Bush-Cheney] buttons, and people want to kill us.”

In the scant days leading up the election, New York Republicans and Democrats alike mustered their forces to gear up for the big day.

In the dimly lit 420 Bar on 80th Street at Amsterdam Avenue, a handful of people, representing the democratic club West Siders for Kerry, met last Thursday evening to discuss their plan of action.

“Only five more days until John Kerry is the next president of the United States!” said club leader Larry Hirsch, whose group called potential Kerry voters in swing states, selling buttons to residents of the West Side and campaigning for the Democratic Party around the city.

“I don’t want this election to be ‘Prelude to a Recount.’ I want to go to work on Nov 3 with a big smile on my face,” said Hirsch, who called for help on Election Day inside polls to encourage people to vote despite long lines and the general chaos that surrounds voting stations.

Of particular concern to Hirsch was voter suppression and intimidation in Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, where many lawyers from his group traveled to ensure fair voting. “We’ll show them that we’re tough New Yorkers who are not going to take any crap from these Republicans.”

To combat voter suppression, Ed Ott, the director of public policy for the New York City Central Labor Council’s AFL-CIO, mobilized activities outside of New York. He sent union volunteers to travel to Pennsylvania every week since April to campaign for Kerry and to Ohio on Election Day to watch polls and knock on doors, encouraging people to vote. “This is a very ugly election—the ugliest in my time. I’ll not be surprised if certain places see violence over this. I’m worried about the safety of the people on the street,” Ott said.

In addition, Ott organized union volunteers to work at phone banks. These volunteers called union members in swing states, including 250,000 in Florida alone, reminding citizens to vote. “We are the phone bank for union members in entire state of Florida,” Ott said. “This way, all volunteers in Florida can go door-to-door.” He anticipated that it took a couple thousand people to keep the phone bank running for the four days before the election.

By contrast, there weren’t many Republicans canvassing the city for the national election, as most were focused on local races.

“They know that New York is going for Kerry. Let’s get real,” said Melissa Ortiz, election campaign coordinator for Republican state senate candidate Emily Csendes. Most active Republicans probably went to swing states, she added.

The Columbia University College Republicans were among those calling for volunteers to canvas Pennsylvania last weekend. Last Thursday evening, the club screened the movie “Fahrenhype 9/11” – a response to Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” released during the summer – to rally for an anticipated Bush victory. Across town, a Republican meet-up was held in a blocked-off section of Midtown’s Typhoon Restaurant and Brewery, where some expressed frustration at not being able to speak their minds in a city known for its more liberal tendencies.

In Tribeca, Republicans and supporters of Peter Hort, Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, waited for election returns in Hort’s apartment. Many were optimistic about a Bush victory.

“I can’t believe people would even cast a vote for Kerry,” said Karen Goerl, 43, “especially New Yorkers after 9-11.” She said she believes Bush is “one of the few honest politicians,” adding that she wears her Bush button with pride.

R. Lee Guarnella, 27, was a bit more cautious about declaring a Bush win earlier in the evening but said he was “very confident” the President would win.

“This was a razor’s edge race,” Guarnella said. Even though he is a Bush supporter, he added, he believes Republicans need to move back to the center, reaching across party lines to compromise more.

“It’s time to get things done, to shake hands, it’s time to start working together,” he said. “There is a necessity for change.”