Barack Obama elected 44th President of the United States

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

The 2008 Democratic presidential nominee, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, 47, is projected to win at least 349 electoral votes, more than enough to clinch the Presidency of the United States. Obama is the first African American to be elected President in U.S. history. His Republican opponent, Arizona senator John McCain is projected to win at least 173 electoral votes. McCain has phoned Obama to concede the election. Obama officially became the President-elect when John McCain issued his concession speech shortly after 9:00PM Mountain Time.

President-elect Barack Obama.
Image: United States Senate.

The Electoral College will officially elect Obama on December 15 and he will be inaugurated as the 44th President on January 20, 2009 at noon.

"We have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken and spoken clearly. This is an historic election and I realize the significance this has for African-Americans [...] Let there be no reason now, for any American should fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth," said McCain at a final event in Arizona.

Barack Hussein Obama was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Barack Obama, Sr. from Kenya and Ann Dunham from Wichita, Kansas. He grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia. He graduated from high school in 1979 and attended Occidental College and Columbia University, receiving his B.A. in political science in 1983. Afterwards he moved to Chicago and worked as a community organizer.

He enrolled in Harvard Law School in 1988, became the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, and graduated magna cum laude in 1991. He returned to Chicago, lecturing at the University of Chicago and practicing as a civil rights attorney.

He was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1997, and became the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Illinois in March 2004. The following July, he delivered the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, catapulting him into the national spotlight.

He won election to the U.S. Senate with 70% of the vote. On February 20, 2007 he announced his candidacy for President and clinched the Democratic nomination on June 3, 2008, after a tense primary battle with Hillary Clinton. Obama is married to Michelle née Robinson, with whom he has two daughters.

Victory speech

At 05:00 UTC, Obama commemorated his victory with a speech to thousands in Chicago. He launched the speech by stating that his victory shows the power of democracy, the people and the United States. He then stated that people voted for him because "people believe this time must be different."

The new president-elect then praised the McCain campaign team for their work, before stating that the time for change has come.

Obama then thanked people for their work in ensuring the victory. He thanked his family, and said that even though his grandmother has passed away, she would be watching his victory from heaven. He also thanked his campaign organizer, chief strategist and staff members who ensured his victory in this election. Obama then thanked the people who have donated or volunteered for his campaign.

The new leader then said that an Obama government is a government of the people, for the people and by the people, before warning that there would be a long steep road ahead for his office, and stating that all his goals may not even be achieved in one term.

He then pledged to be honest as leader before stating that the victory is not change, but an opportunity for change, and that people must work to achieve this in this "new dawn of American leadership."He added, "change is coming to America" while speaking in front of 65,000 people.

Results

 
2008 Electoral College Map

This is a tally of all of the polls closed so far.

Candidate Votes % States led National ECV
Barack Obama (Democrat)   67,900,840 52.8% 27+DC+NE-02* 365
John McCain (Republican) 59,042,932 45.9% 22 173
Ralph Nader (Independent) 698,798 0.6% 0 0
Bob Barr (Libertarian) 511,324 0.4% 0 0
Chuck Baldwin (Constitution) 181,818 0.1% 0 0
Cynthia McKinney (Green) 152,811 0.1% 0 0
Alan Keyes (Independent) 41,748 0.1% 0 0
Other candidates 163,986 0.1% 0 0
Total 128,702,976 100% 50 + DC 538

National turnout:

Electoral College Overview

 
McCain (far left) and Obama (far right) participate in a bipartisan meeting with President Bush and members of Congress, regarding the proposed bailout of U.S. financial system, September 25, 2008.
 
Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden and Joe Biden at the United States Vice Presidential announcement on August 23, 2008 in Springfield, Illinois.
State EC votes Winner
Alabama 9 McCain
Alaska 3 McCain
Arizona 10 McCain
Arkansas 6 McCain
California 55 Obama
Colorado 9 Obama
Connecticut 7 Obama
Delaware 3 Obama
D.C. 3 Obama
Florida 27 Obama
Georgia 15 McCain
Hawaii 4 Obama
Idaho 4 McCain
Illinois 21 Obama
Indiana 11 Obama
Iowa 7 Obama
Kansas 6 Mccain
Kentucky 8 McCain
Louisiana 9 McCain
Maine 4 Obama
Maryland 10 Obama
Massachusetts 12 Obama
Michigan 17 Obama
Minnesota 10 Obama
Mississippi 6 McCain
Missouri 11 Too close
Montana 3 McCain
Nebraska 5 McCain
Nevada 5 Obama
New Hampshire 4 Obama
New Jersey 15 Obama
New Mexico 5 Obama
New York 31 Obama
North Carolina 15 Obama
North Dakota 3 McCain
Ohio 20 Obama
Oklahoma 7 Mccain
Oregon 7 Obama
Pennsylvania 21 Obama
Rhode Island 4 Obama
South Carolina 8 McCain
South Dakota 3 McCain
Tennessee 11 McCain
Texas 34 McCain
Utah 5 McCain
Vermont 3 Obama
Virginia 13 Obama
Washington 11 Obama
West Virginia 5 McCain
Wisconsin 10 Obama
Wyoming 3 McCain


Sources

 
Wikinews
This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.
 
Wikinews
This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.
 
Wikinews
Some information contained in this article was obtained from television, radio, or live webcast sources. Reporter's notes and the broadcast source details are available at the collaboration page.