Obama Wins Historic Election

Barack Obama has been elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African-American elected to the office. Mike OSullivan reports, the Democratic senator from Illinois promised to unify the count_ry when he takes office, January 20, 2009.
In Grant Park in Chicago, hundreds of thousands of supporters reacted with screams of joy as American television networks projected Barack Obama as the next U.S. president.
In Phoenix, Arizona, losing Republican candidate Senator John McCain conceded the race, telling his somber supporters they had reached the end of a long journey.
"The American people have spoken and they have spoken clearly," said McCain. "A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Senator Barack Obama to congratulate him on being elected the next president of the count_ry that we both love."
A short time later, Senator Obama mounted the stage in Chicago with his wife and two daughters, then spoke to his supporters in a televised address that was seen around the world.
"Its 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," he said.
The election is historic. When Mr. Obama takes office in January, he will become first the African-American president in the nations 232-year history. His election ends eight years of Republican control of the White House under President George W. Bush.
As the vote count_ progressed, the Democrat far outpaced his rival in the state-by-state tally of electoral votes. The winning candidate needs 270 electoral votes. Senator McCain fell far short, as Mr. Obama won such contested states as Ohio and Pennsylvania, which many saw as crucial for a McCain victory.
 In his victory speech in Chicago, Mr. Obama spoke of the challenges facing the nation, which include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, what he called a planet in peril and the worst financial crisis in a century.
"Theres new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build and threats to meet, alliances to repair. The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep," said Mr. Obama. "We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there."
As Senator Obama called for unity in the face of the count_rys problems, Senator McCain pledged his support, despite the differences the two men expressed in the campaign.
"No doubt, many of those differences remain," McCain said. "These are difficult times for our count_ry and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face."