After a close race and some controversy … it's decided

Time stood still at 5 p.m. Wednesday when the polls closed for the 2007 SGA presidential elections while results were certified.

There was a lot at stake. More than three weeks of campaigning. Thousands of dollars spent gathering votes. Sunburns and sleep deprivation kept candidates on edge as accusations of dirty campaigning grew.

Groups of supporters in dark blue or red T-shirts huddled together in the area outside of the Student Union in the final hours before the polls closed. Any spontaneous applause was greeted with groans when supporters realized the applause was not to herald the announcing of results.

Brandie Hollinger's face looked tense the moments before the announcement. Then the results: Hollinger had gathered 53 percent of the vote and was the new SGA president.

Students had elected UCF's first female president Brandie Hollinger in a close race.

"I feel incredible," Hollinger said as she hugged friends, campaigners and running mates after the win. "I'm shaking; I just want to thank my volunteers again. Thank you so much."

Immediately after the results were announced, the area in front of the Union exploded into a scene of animated excitement, with supporters and campaigners on both sides jumping up and down like they were at a concert.

Supporters of Hollinger and vice president elect Logan Berkowitz were relieved.

"The hard work has paid off," said campaigner Max Friedman.

The moment the announcement was made, Eingold/Smith supporter Zach Nissen did the unexpected: he also jumped for joy.

"Forty-seven percent! Forty-seven percent! Whooo!" Nissen said.

That was the reaction of most of the Eingold/Smith ticket.

The loss was considered somewhat of a victory for the "progressive" party. Last year when Eingold ran for vice president, the ticket only gained 20 percent of the votes.

With the campaigning behind them, the need for rest was felt on both sides.

"I'm going to be glad to sleep," Hollinger said. "After this, I'm going to go home, sit down and then we're going to go out and paint the town red."

Eingold said he's had a tough week of campaigning.

"I feel like a plane just landed on me," Eingold said two hours before the results were announced. "My throat hurts. I'm nauseous. I'm sunburned. I'm exhausted. I've had my feelings hurt a lot in the campaign."

Eingold cited the spreading of rumors - such as one claiming he denies the Holocaust - as one factor that brought him down this week.

"This morning, I got up at 6, had two cups of coffee and a Rockstar Energy Drink, and I was still tired," Eingold said.

Other controversies over the last few days did nothing to quell any nervous energy. One Hollinger campaigner, Skylar Siminovsky, said he was approached by vice presidential candidate Austin Smith on Monday.

"Austin got in my face and grabbed my T-shirt," Siminovsky said. "He was talking to a voter, and I mentioned to them that one member of their campaign doesn't stand up for the pledge of allegiance."

Austin Smith said that he had heard Siminovsky's comments throughout the day before deciding to approach him.

"I tugged on his shirt to get his attention. I didn't grab a fist of cloth, it was two fingers," Smith said. "I told him it isn't true, and when I did that, he threatened me and kept doing it."

Smith added that he hoped voters didn't take any rumors like those seriously.

The final campaign week was also spotted with a dispute over the scheduling of the final debate, which ended up taking place Wednesday at noon, just hours before the results.

Some candidates argued that wasn't nearly enough time to catch any lingering votes.

At 5 p.m., when the polls finally shut down, Eingold came out of the Union with a megaphone.

"First, let me say that the Holocaust did, in fact, happen," Eingold said. "I wanted to congratulate all the people on the campaign. I would like to invite Logan to our next SDS meeting. We will not give up the fight."

Hollinger also addressed her campaigners: "I want to thank you all. Win or lose, you've been here for us. Let's take it home, baby."

As both candidates braced for loss or victory, the financial tabs rolled in. Hollinger reported spending $8,500 on her campaign, while Eingold said his campaign spent between $3,000-$4,000.

Campaigning included expenses like pizza, handbills and signs. Both candidates said the money came through donations and out-of-pocket resources.

With the results tabulated, the elections committee walked up to the Student Union stage at 5:30 p.m.

Blue and red shirts bunched together. "It's like The Who concert. Everybody get up front!" shouted one person in the crowd.

With 9,657 votes in, 53.68 percent went to Hollinger.

"Thank you so much!" Hollinger said as she jumped up and down.

Mark White, UCF's current SGA president, was one of the first to congratulate her.

"I think it's great that we have a female president. I'm really excited for her, and I know she always goes above and beyond," White said.

"It'll be really interesting to say Madam President," White said. "It just shows how diverse our student body really is."

His advice for the new president: "Keep your campaign promises."