Obama elected nation’s 44th president

The crowd of 125,000 in Chicago’s Grant Park cheered the President elect as Barack Obama took the stage.

Obama looked ahead as he thanked his backers for two years of work.

“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America,“ Obama said.  “To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.“

Obama looked forward but many, mindful of America’s past, were stunned by the reality of an African American winning the presidency.
Crowds gathered outside the White House in Washington and across America.

In the end Arizona Senator John McCain fell far short, losing the biggest blue state he worked to win, Pennsylvania, and losing a raft of red states like Virginia and Florida.

McCain had been attacking obama personally but that ended in Arizona.

“I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering out next President our good will and ernest effort to find ways to come together,“ he said in his concession speech.