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Obama wins historic US election

2008-11-05 08:48:00

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Barack Obama speaks to jubilant crowds at his victory rally in Chicago

Democratic Senator Barack Obama has been elected the first black president of

the United States.

"It's been a long time coming, but tonight... change has come to America," the

president-elect told a jubilant crowd at a victory rally in Chicago.

His rival John McCain accepted defeat, saying "I deeply admire and commend" Mr

Obama. He called on his supporters to lend the next president their goodwill.

The BBC's Justin Webb says the result will have a profound impact on the US.

He says the American people have made two fundamental statements about

themselves: that they are profoundly unhappy with the status quo, and that they

are slamming the door on the country's racial past.

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McCain: 'We must work together'

Mr Obama appeared with his family, and his running mate Joe Biden, before a

crowd of tens of thousands in Grant Park, Chicago.

Many people in the vast crowd, which stretched back far into the Chicago night,

wept as Mr Obama spoke.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where

all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is

alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is

your answer," he said.

He said he had received an "extraordinarily gracious" call from Mr McCain.

He praised the former Vietnam prisoner-of-war as a "brave and selfless leader".

OBAMA GAINS

Ohio

New Mexico

Iowa

Virginia

Florida

Colorado

Nevada

Indiana

"He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to

imagine," the victor said.

He had warm words for his family, announcing to his daughters: "Sasha and

Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new

puppy that's coming with us to the White House."

But he added: "Even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that

tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in

peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. But America - I have

never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there."

Hours after Mr Obama's victory was announced, crowds were still celebrating in

Chicago and in Washington DC.

From red to blue

Mr Obama captured the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio, before

breaking through the winning threshold of 270 electoral college votes at 0400

GMT, when projections showed he had also taken California and a slew of other

states.

Then came the news that he had also seized Florida, Virginia and Colorado - all

of which voted Republican in 2004 - turning swathes of the map from red to

blue.

Projected results have yet to be announced for the states of North Carolina and

Missouri, but at 1100 GMT, Mr Obama's share of the popular vote stood at 52.3%,

compared with Mr McCain's 46.4%.

The main developments include:

Mr Obama is projected to have seized Ohio, New Mexico, Iowa, Virginia,

Florida, Colorado, Indiana and Nevada - all Republican wins in 2004.

He is also projected to have won: Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania,

Illinois, Delaware, Massachusetts, District of Columbia, Maryland, Connecticut,

Maine, New Jersey, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, New York, Rhode Island,

California, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon.

Mr McCain is projected to have won: Montana, Alaska, Kentucky, South

Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Kansas, North Dakota,

Wyoming, Georgia, Louisiana, West Virginia, Texas, Mississippi, Utah, Arizona,

Idaho, South Dakota.

Turnout was reported to be extremely high - in some places "unprecedented".
The Democrats made gains in the Senate race, seizing seats from the

Republicans in Virginia, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Mexico and

Colorado. They also increased their majority of the House of Representatives.

Exit polls suggest the economy was the major deciding factor for six out of

10 voters.

Nine out of 10 said the candidates' race was not important to their vote, the

Associated Press reported. Almost as many said age did not matter.

Several states reported very high turnout. It was predicted 130 million

Americans, or more, would vote - more than for any election since 1960.

Many people said they felt they had voted in a historic election - and for many

African-Americans the moment was especially poignant.

HAVE YOUR SAY I find myself strangely emotional about this. I want to go wake

up my neighbours and hug them Amy Scullane, Boston

John Lewis, an activist in the civil rights era who was left beaten on an

Alabama bridge 40 years ago, told Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church: "This is a

great night. It is an unbelievable night. It is a night of thanksgiving."

Besides winning the presidency, the Democrats tightened their grip on Congress.

The entire US House of Representatives and a third of US Senate seats were up

for grabs.

Democrats won several Senate seats from the Republicans, but seemed unlikely to

gain the nine extra they wanted to reach the 60-seat "super-majority" that

could prevent Republicans blocking legislation.