by Anthony Sciarrino
Barack Obama was elected the 44th President in the history of the United States, handily defeating John McCain in Tuesday’s election. Obama is the first African-American to be elected the President of the U.S, and the first Democrat to be elected since then incumbent Bill Clinton defeated Bob Dole.
Garnering about 53% of the voters with a little over 64 million votes, Obama received just about 7.5 million more votes than McCain. With Missouri and North Carolina considered too close to call, Obama was still able to gather 349 electoral votes, more than enough to meet the 270 required to become President. Obama is also the first elected Democrat to win over 50% of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976.
A key to Obama’s victory was his ability to win states that John Kerry, the Democratic candidate four years ago, was not able to accomplish. The President-elect was able to gain key victories in Ohio, New Mexico, Iowa, Virginia, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, and Nevada, all of which voted for George Bush in 2004.
Among these unlikely state victories, Indiana and Virginia showed the true change that this election brought about in the United States. Each of these states traditionally vote Republican, but when Obama won each it was the first time that a Democrat has secured their electoral votes since 1964.
In his acceptance speech, Barack Obama not only relished his election victory, but looked toward the future, as he will be taking office on January 20th and has a lot of work to do to help America solve the problems that have plagued the nation since President Bush was elected in 2000.
While the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress,” Obama said, in front of the over one hundred thousand people at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois.
Obama also discussed the future, saying, “There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government can’t solve every problem…. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it’s been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years – block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”
Obama will have the support of a Democratic majority in Congress, marking the first time that the Democratic Party will have control of the White House and Congress since 1994.
Now that the election is over, the real work only now begins. With wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the United States facing their worst economic times in one hundred years, Obama has his work cut out for him, but it is a job that he is determined to complete.
“We may not get there in one year or even in one term,” he said. “But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there.” Obama said.
To check out Anthony Sciarrino’s election preview story click on this link here.
