Obama elected first black US president

Americans placed their faith in Barack Obama today, turning their backs on a past of slavery and segregation and electing the first African-American to the US presidency.



At Obama's election party in Chicago, there were raucous celebration and tears of joy as the US TV networks just after 11pm ET (4am GMT) declared that the Democratic candidate had been voted America's 44th president.

He was carried across the threshold by epic voter turnout across the country, giving him a wider margin over his opponent, John McCain, than any other president in the past two decades.

At least 134m Americans participated in the election, according to early estimates, representing more than 60% of eligible voters and shattering the previous record of 122m.

Obama, accompanied to the podium in his home town of Chicago by his wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, alluded to the historic nature of his victory.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer," he said in his acceptance speech.



"It's 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."

Ending an improbable journey that started for Obama a long 21 months ago, he drew a record-shattering $700 million to his campaign account alone. The first African-American destined to sit in the Oval Office, he also was the first Democrat to receive more than 50 percent of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976. He is the first senator elected to the White House since John F. Kennedy in 1960.



With most U.S. precincts tallied, the popular vote was 52.3 percent for Obama and 46.4 percent for McCain. But the count in the Electoral College was much more lopsided — 349 to 147 in Obama's favor as of early Wednesday, with three states still to be decided. Those were North Carolina, Georgia and Missouri.

Congratulation to Barrack Obama. The 44th President of the United States of America! We will see how he handle the country. It is promising to be way much better than currently president George W. Bush. This gonna be interesting...