8/14/2019 TheSun 2008-11-06 Page01 Historic Victory

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No. 4633 PP 2644/12/2008 (020369)

ThursdayNovember 6, 2008

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Historic victory

» OBAMA FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT

» SONG AND DANCE AROUND THE WORLD

» DEMOCRATS EXTEND CONTROL OF CONGRESS

WASHINGTON: Barack Obama rode awave of voter discontent to a historicWhite House victory, promising

change as the first black US president but constrained by a deep economic crisis andtwo lingering wars.

The junior senator from Illinois ledDemocrats to a sweeping victory that expanded their majorities in both housesof Congress as voters emphatically rejectedPresident George W. Bush’s eight years of leadership.

The son of a black father from Kenya andwhite mother from Kansas, Obama was bornat a time when black Americans were stillbattling segregationist policies in the South.His election triumph over Republican rivalJohn McCain, 72, on Tuesday is a milestonethat could help the United States bury its longand often brutal history of racism.

“It’s been a long time coming, but tonight,because of what we did on this day, at thisdefining moment, change has come to

America,” Obama, 47, told more than 200,000ecstatic supporters gathered in Chicago’s

Grant Park to celebrate.Raucous street celebrations erupted acrossthe country, but Obama will have little or notime off to enjoy the victory. He was expectedto start work immediately on planning acourse for his formal takeover on Jan 20 andputting together a team to tackle the hugechallenges at home and abroad.

Of the results declared at press time,Obama won 349 Electoral College votes, farmore than the 270 needed. With results infrom more than three-quarters of precincts, heled McCain by 52% to 47% in the popular vote.Turnout was 65%, the highest since 1908.

A first-term senator who will now be the44th US president, Obama said he would workto ease the country’s sharp political divisionsand listen to those who voted against him.

“The road ahead will be long. Our climbwill be steep. We may not get there in oneyear or even one term, but America, I havenever been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there,” he said.

McCain’s hopes for a surprise winevaporated with losses in a string of key

battleground states led by the big prizesof Ohio and Florida, the states that sent Democrats to defeat in the last two elections.

McCain, an Arizona senator and formerVietnam War prisoner, called Obama tocongratulate him and praised his inspirationaland precedent-shattering campaign. “I urgeall Americans who supported me to join mein not just congratulating him but offering ournext president our goodwill,” he said.

Blacks and whites celebrated together infront of the White House to mark Obama’swin and Bush’s imminent departure. Cars

 jammed downtown Washington streets, withdrivers honking their horns and leaning out their windows to cheer. Thousands more

 joined street celebrations in New York’sTimes Square and in cities and towns acrossthe United States and the world.

“This is the most significant political event of my generation,” said Brett Schneider, 23,who was in the crowd for Obama’s victoryspeech in Chicago.

It’s been a long timecoming, but tonight,because of what wedid on this day, at thisdefining moment, changehas come to America.”

» Turn to Page 10

» On Pages 2, 10, 12,13, 20 & 21

» RAIS: U.S. MUSTRESPECT SMALLERCOUNTRIES

» THE GLOBE JOINSIN CELEBRATIONS

» VOTERS SEND MCCAINLOUD MESSAGE

» THE UPSTART WITHA DREAM

» WHAT PRESIDENT 

OBAMA MUST DO

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