In 2006, Maryland Democrats proclaimed they were taking back the state when then Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley was elected Governor.
Two years later, with just under a day left until polls close on Election Day, they're claiming to take back the nation.
Although O'Malley did not make an appearance at a rally for presidential candidate Barack Obama Monday night as originally scheduled, an impressive list of high-ranking Maryland politicians did.
"We are now 24-hours away from what I believe will be a Barack Obama victory," state senator Barbara Mikulski said to a room crammed with Obama advocates on Chesapeake Avenue in Towson.
"They said it was improbable. They said it was impossible. Well, hours from now the improbable will be probable and the impossible will be possible."
She thanked the "team that has been on the field and on the ground" on behalf of the Obama family.
According to Mikulski, volunteers' work led to the registration of 226,000 new Democrats for this election. Campaign participants made 178,000 phone calls across the nation were made to potential voters. Also, a total of 13,000 volunteers traveled to swing states, canvassing on behalf of the Illinois senator.
The interstate travel did not end with volunteers. In addition to Mikulski, senator Ben Cardin, and congressmen John Sarbanes and Elijah Cummings, who all attended the rally, did their part in spreading Obama's message.
"We are on the eve of changing the world," Cummings said. "We were born for this moment. This is our moment. This is a moment to take our country back."
The focal message of the evening was that despite excitement, the work was not over.
"This is an election about America's future. This election is about what type of country we want," Cardin said. "This election is about the young people you see here tonight. It's about making sure they have good schools and a chance to succeed."
A number of students donated their time and efforts to Obama's campaign.
Andy Carton, volunteer coordinator for the Towson Students for Barack Obama, looked forward to a full day of campaigning activities.
"We're cautiously optimistic. We're not getting over confident," Carton said. "We know we still have work to do tomorrow. We're going to make it happen, but it's going to take some work. Not just now, but probably for the rest of his term, terms."
Towson senior Haley Koteen, also a volunteer, said devotion to the Obama campaign stemmed from mirrored views on all issues.
"I feel so strongly about this. I feel like I need him to win this election so I will do everything I can do in power to help the cause," the deaf studies and social sciences double major said.
As citizens exited Obama Headquarters, the volunteers went back to work at their stations, making more phone calls to the West Coast.
"I've been in politics since I was 16 years old and I've never seen anything like this," Baltimore county executive Jim Smith said.
"I was in here this afternoon and more than half of the people were young people…it was moving, not to get so sentimental about this, but to see young people so engaged in the political process that's what we need in this country…Today was just one example of that in action."
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