Eyes glued to cable news, the congressional staffers and strategists propping up a bar near Washington's imposing Capitol ensure that the quadrennial political tradition of "Super Tuesday" is an evening of beer, fried snacks and complex election mathematics.
A mock voting booth with a red and white curtain redolent of Old Glory itself provides a discrete corner where customers of the Union Pub can "vote" for their favorite menu items in private.
Tuesday's delights: totcho -- that's "tater tot nacho" -- platters reduced by USD 2, potato croquettes, and two-for-one cocktails after 5:00pm.
Sitting in front of the giant screen on the terrace on a mild winter evening, public affairs consultants Maggie Kiney and Libby King wait impatiently for the first projections to come in.
Super Tuesday, one of the most consequential milestones in the Democratic primary, is the day when the most US states hold votes for the party's eventual nominee to run for president.
"Super Tuesday is a fascinating occasion to see the democratic process in action," says King, 26, as she drains the pitcher of beer they are sharing.
Kiney, 33, envisages an evening where they will "drink, eat and sit on Twitter."
Under the approving gaze of Honest Abe Lincoln, depicted on a wall with a beer in his hand, the bar offers patrons a spin on "Super Tuesday" it calls "Super Totcho Tuesday Boozeday."
"What's happening today is a launch pad for next few months, with an impact not only for America, but for the entire world."