Obama is Mr. President

WASHINGTON: Barack Obama swept to an historic election victory that made him America’s first black president but pleaded for time to heal and transform the global superpower.
“Tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at
this defining moment, change has come to America,” Obama told 240,000 euphoric supporters, many in tears, at a rally late yesterday after defeating Republican John McCain.
Obama, 47, will be inaugurated as the 44th US president on Jan 20, and inherit an economy mired in financial crisis, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and a nuclear showdown with Iran.
”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,” said Obama.
”The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep, we may not get there in one year or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there,” Obama said in his hometown of Chicago.
“I promise you — we as a people will get there.”
Senator Obama solidified traditional Democratic states and cut deep into the Republican territory which his rival needed to control to win the White House.
Democrats also made huge strides in Congress, and will hold an unshakeable monopoly in power in Washington.
One with Obama: Supporters reacting as President-elect Obama appears to make his acceptance speech on television at the Nevada Democratic Party’s election results watch party at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. After nearly two years of presidential campaigning, US citizens went to the polls and voted for Obama over Republican nominee McCain. — AFP
After a bilious campaign, McCain was gracious in defeat, and noted that his election was a moment to cherish for African Americans.
”The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly. A little while ago, I had the honour of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love,” he said.
Obama’s inauguration will complete a stunning ascent to the pinnacle of US and global politics from national obscurity just four years ago and close an eight year era of turbulence under Bush.
Obama is promising to renew bruised ties with US allies, and to engage some of the most fierce US foes like Iran and North Korea. He has vowed to tackle climate change and provide health care to all Americans.
His presidency also marks a stunning social shift, with Obama, the son of Kenyan father and white mother from Kansas, the first African American president of a nation still riven by racial divides.
When he launched his campaign on a chilly day in Illinois in February 2007, Obama forged a mantra of change which powered him throughout the longest, most costly US presidential campaign in history.
He knew success was likely after capturing Pennsylvania, the battleground state which McCain needed to win to keep his long-shot hopes of victory alive.
In the Senate, Democrats wrested control of five Republican seats including in the traditionally Republican state of Virginia, followed by New Hampshire, North Carolina and New Mexico, reaching a 56 seat majority in the 100-seat chamber.
Republican Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell clung on in Kentucky, meaning Democrats were unlikely to win the 60 seats they need in the 100-seat chamber needed to frustrate Republican obstruction tactics.
Senate races in Alaska, Minnesota, Georgia and Oregon however were still too close to call.
Democrats also won 20 seats in the House of Representatives, solidifying their majority to 251 against 171 of the Republicans. Six House races were still too close to call as at press time — AFP