Other encouraging signs? The campaign paid for a spread, including a kosher food station, and there was an open bar.

At 9:15 pm, the place was already three-quarters full and former City Comptroller Bill Thompson was gently working the room alongside Yetta Kurland, who’s considering a bid for Christine Quinn’s council seat in Chelsea.

Jeffries’ tireless spokeswoman, Lupe Todd, made a brief announcement that the campaign crunched early numbers and found that Jeffries was ahead 70 percent to Charles Barron’s 30 percent (unofficial Associated Press numbers as of 12:30 a.m. showed Jeffries up 72-28).

“The bar is open!” said Todd.

The room began an ecstatic hum and Thompson gave interviews.

“The early numbers are just that— but this is a good sign,” Thompson said understatedly. “I think that Hakeem will win by a larger margin that people think and I think Nydia will win.”

Assemblyman Alec Brook-Krasny and Councilman Al Vann staked out positions near the buffet table.

“I’ve never seen such great numbers,” said Brook-Krasny, who shepherded Jeffries’s winning efforts in Coney Island and Seagate.

I asked Vann whether Rep. Ed Towns made a mistake by endorsing Barron.

“I don’t know what was in his head and why he did it, but I did not think it would make any difference in the race for Hakeem,” he said.

The numbers kept getting better and it seemed like everyone in Brooklyn turned out to celebrate Hakeem’s developing victory. Even former county leader Clarence Norman, fresh off his release from prison, showed up to “congratulate the future congressman.”

“I’m a businessman now,” he said, declining further comment, in the night’s oddest celebrity showing.

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* City & State is proud to present State of Our State, a half-day forum up in Albany on April 25th. The three sessions will focus on Health Care and Medicaid, Energy Development/Exploration Opportunities, and Public-Private Partnerships. Featured guest speakers will include Sen. Kemp Hannon, Sen. George Maziarz, Tom Madison of the New York Thruway Authority, Liz Benjamin of Capitol Tonight/YNN and many others. City & State would also like to invite nominations for our annual Albany Rising Stars: 40 under 40 issue. Nominations should be elected officials, staffers, lobbyists, candidates, activists, reporters and other movers and shakers under 40 years old who are making a difference in Albany. The closing date for your submissions will be Friday, April 13. Winners will be announced shortly after, with details on a reception to be held in Albany in May.

To read more from City & State click here.