SUPPLIED TO ANDERSON:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Conrad Giedt didn’t vote for President Barack Obama.

“I’ve always leaned Republican,” he said, opening up his overcoat to reveal a tie emblazoned with elephants.

And yet he called his congressman, Rep. John Campbell, the day after the election to see if he could get tickets to the presidential inauguration.

“Tuesday evening [election night] my oldest son said, ‘Dad, we have to go,’” the Newport Beach man said.

So he did, but he didn’t hear anything for months. About 10 days ago he called Campbell’s office and found out he had a ticket for himself and his son, Dillon.

He had no clue Campbell’s office held a lottery for the tickets, he said.

He also had no idea Campbell received 3,500 requests for the congressman’s allotted 198 tickets. Giedt beat long odds when he visited Campbell’s Washington office Monday to pick up his tickets, especially when you consider 20% to 25% of the congressman’s tickets went to VIPs and family.

As a certified public accountant, Giedt could appreciate those odds, but none of that mattered to him Monday in a city infatuated with Obama, waiting for today when they get hitched to the new administration. The lines outside the Congressional office buildings sprawled around the block, sometimes bumping into each other as security worked as quickly as possible to usher in visitors.

No, Tuesday would be a moment for Giedt to bond with his son, taking in a historic inauguration. They are all historic, but this one has generated enough buzz in D.C. that even some of the most cynical politicos feel it’s special.

And if Giedt had not gotten those tickets?

“We were going to come regardless,” he said.

And even though he disagrees with a lot of Obama’s policies, Giedt is excited about his presidency.

“He offers youth,” Giedt said. “It’s been a long while since we had that, not since Kennedy.”

He still worries about the Democratic majority shunting aside the GOP minority, something that could happen no matter what Obama does, he said.

Campbell was also eager to attend the inauguration.

“Frankly, I’m looking forward to the speech,” Campbell said.

“He’s such a great orator I’m interested to experience that in person.”

Tuesday will be a time to put aside politics, he said, adding that bipartisanship is what lawmakers need to stress.

“No, I didn’t vote for him or support him, but he’ll be my president, too,” Campbell said. “These are tumultuous times. The financial system is precarious and we have a lot of critical work to do. This is not a time for partisanship. I’m in disagreement with my Republican colleagues these days as I am the Democrats.”

PAUL ANDERSON is the Daily Pilot’s city editor. He may be reached at paul.anderson@latimes.com or at (714) 966-4633.