"Shots for every swing state," shouted the local organiser at an election watch-along party in Green County, Wisconsin, raising his fists.

The exchange occurred as Fox News announced the first battleground state, North Carolina, had voted for Donald Trump, sparking broad smiles amongst the attendees.

Large brandies are poured and passed down the bar before a toast.

"For those that believe it's going well, those that don't can go to hell," the organiser calls to a cheering bar.

I've ventured to southern Wisconsin to sample how politics enthusiasts watch an election together.

The atmosphere is similar to a sporting event. Eyes are transfixed on the screens around the bar and crowds, and every result in their favour is cheered.

Local Republican member Mike McLean explained to me: "Americans either nerd out on sports or politics and I call into the latter."

He's come down to the Pink Heifer bar in Monticello, a town so small its main street ends with farmland, with his wife to watch the results amongst fellow Trump fans.

And, as the night progressed, it became increasingly obvious their man was going to take the crown, so the Republicans got the party started.

In these places, elections are won and lost, where the enthusiasm of local volunteers can be the difference between the few hundred votes that push a candidate over the line.

The number of candidates for office who show up demonstrates this. Eric Olson and Rich Johnson thank those who've supported their election efforts.

But it's also where people seek the company of others to relieve the nerves and tension they feel.

Anxiety has hung in the air throughout this campaign, and travelling around Wisconsin in the run-up to the vote, I've seen how much both sides feel a loss would be catastrophic.

Neighbours have become enemies, and a depressingly large number of people think the bitter division between Republicans and Democrats will .

As one side is devastated by Trump's win, on the other, there is the ecstasy of victory.

Travelling to another party hosted by senate candidate Eric Hovde I see this first hand.

As the crucial Pennsylvania result is called by, you guessed it, Fox News, young men leap about in the air, hugging each other as their team has just scored a last-minute winning goal.

It's the type of energy I don't usually associate with politics, and in Britain, where people tend to be reserved, anyone celebrating political results this much is usually mocked.

But watching the results come in with Republicans brought home the point that, in the USA, people might be more outgoing and energetic, but it also undeniably matters more.

We in the UK have a habit of viewing things with cynicism; in America, they really seem to think the world might change with every election.

Under the circumstances, you can sympathise with them taking the edge of it with a beer or jumping for joy at the results.