If first impressions are lasting ones, then phone greetings tell all - and the hello at the Stabenow campaign is proof.

No longer do campaign workers answer, “Stabenow 2000.” The new greeting is “Thank you for calling Senator-elect Debbie Stabenow’s office.”

The salutation got a little more spunk in it today after the Democratic congresswoman was victorious in her bid for Republican Spence Abraham’s U.S. Senate seat.

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Stabenow squeaked past the incumbent senator with 49 percent, or 2,042,086 votes. Abraham had 48 percent, with 1,985,698 votes.

But the victory came after a very long night of waiting.

“Debbie spent today hanging out with her family, calling supporters and people who’ve helped her through the years,” Stabenow spokeswoman Kim Trent said Wednesday afternoon. “She took the time to rest too - yesterday was a very long day.”

Polls for the general election closed Tuesday night at 8 p.m., but victory and concession speeches weren’t delivered until Wednesday morning.

“With everything that happened with the presidential race, we didn’t want to be premature in making an acceptance speech,” Trent said.

Exit polls showed Abraham and Stabenow in a tight race. Early election returns, however, showed the senator with a commanding lead - but that lead was slowly whittled away as night turned to morning and more precincts reported results.

Abraham called Stabenow between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. to concede, Trent said.

“We had a press conference this morning as well,” she said. “Congresswoman Stabenow thanked supporters and talked about her vision for her first term.”

Trent said campaign workers were happy Wednesday morning to finally know the results of the race.

“We were ecstatic this morning because we were running on adrenaline,” she said. “I think after we celebrated after she made her acceptance speech, fatigue finally crept up on people.

“The campaign office has been very quiet today.”

The Abraham campaign office was noticeably different Wednesday, well after its candidate conceded defeat.

“People are getting ready to, staff-wise, move on to other work,” said Joe Davis, Abraham press secretary. “Abraham spent time today with his family, like he plans to do over the course of the next few months.”

Like Stabenow, Abraham will be back in Washington, D.C., next week for session.

“Knowing Spence Abraham, the wheels are turning,” Davis said. “He will make up his mind of what to do in January when all is finished with the final weeks in the Senate.”

Davis said after spending all night Tuesday counting votes, making projections and calling county clerk offices, today campaign workers are looking forward to the future.

“We have a good team,” he said. “Many are looking to move on to bigger and other exciting opportunities. Some may be headed back to school finishing up law degrees.

“They’re fine, but naturally disappointed.”

Amanda Stitt, deputy field director for the Stabenow campaign, said fellow workers are also thinking ahead.

“Debbie has a lot of loyal staff,” said Stitt, president of the Michigan College Democrats. “Many will move to the Senate. It will be strange though - we are used to each other and worrying about where Debbie is at all times.”

Stitt said after working for many months on a campaign, the candidate becomes the focus of concern.

“We were saying we’re not going to have anything to do if we don’t have to know where she is,” Stitt joked. “It’ll be an adjustment going back to normal life.”

Especially after the excitement of the last few weeks and hours of the campaign.

“In the morning (on Election Day) we were told that huge lines of people had formed early,” Stitt said. “Some were waiting an hour and a half to vote - but they were waiting. Things were looking good as far as turnout goes.”

Stitt said everyone at the campaign office was happy Stabenow won, but wished the Democrats had won more offices.

“It’s hard to be happy with other Democrats not winning,” Stitt said. “We wish Dianne Byrum and the Michigan House had pulled through as well.”

Emily Robinson can be reached at robin314@msu.edu.