Obama wins

By Stacey Featherstone
Writer

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) was elected 44th president of the United States Tuesday night following a 21-month campaign, the longest in American history. 

Obama won both the popular and electoral vote by a comfortable margin. Eight states Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass) lost in 2004 voted Democratic this year, including battleground states Ohio and Florida.

Pennsylvania, an important swing state with 21 electoral votes, also went to the Democrats, with Obama winning 55 percent of the vote. Union County, where the University is located, went to Republican candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz). More than 9,500 voters supported McCain compared to the 7,207 who backed Obama.

Obama addressed a crowd of up to 240,000 in Chicago, Ill. upon his election.

“America is a place where all things are possible. We have never been just a collection of red states and blue states. We are and always will be the United States of America,” he said.

The Democrats are firmly in control, gaining control of the House, Senate and White House for the first time since 1995, according to bbc.co.uk.

Obama said he looks forward to working with his former opponents in the months ahead.

“We need to heal the divides that have held back our progress,” he said.

McCain addressed the country after learning of his defeat.

“I have served this country for a half a century … tonight, I remain her servant. I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president,” he said in his speech Tuesday from Phoenix, Ariz.

McCain went on to thank supporters, making special note of his family and advisers. McCain also thanked running mate Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska).

“We can all look forward to her future service to Alaska, the Republican party and our country,” McCain said.

The Republican candidate said he would not regret what might have been.

“This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life,” he said.

McCain also made a similar request in his speech to end bipartisanship.

The new president will face challenges as the campaign euphoria fades. Obama inherits the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In his speech, Obama warned voters “the climb will be steep.”

Campus campaigning increased as the election approached and continued throughout Tuesday. Obama supporters set up camp in the Elaine Langone Center with flyers and stickers, and wrote in chalk on campus pathways.(read more)