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'CHANGE HAS COME'
In landslide, Obama becomes country's first black president
Colin Kavanaugh
CHICAGO - Hundreds of thousands of supporters turned out last night in Chicago's Grant Park to celebrate the man who will be the next president of the United States: Sen. Barack Obama.
The Illinois Democrat, who will become the country's 44th president, is the first African American to be elected to the position.
"This victory alone is not the change we seek," Obama said. "It is only the chance for us to make that change."
Unlike in the two previous elections, Obama emerged as the victor relatively early in the night, leading to an electoral landslide.
As of press time, Obama had secured 338 electoral votes.
Obama's wide margin of victory demonstrated that voters embraced his call for change and had largely overcome doubts about his experience.
The large crowd at Grant Park considered the election decided in their favor when the state of Virginia was called for a Democrat for the first time since 1964.
At that moment, the cautious optimism that had pervaded the crowd was removed, and emotional celebration took hold.
The crowd erupted in a huge roar when networks then began calling the election for Obama.
Despite having waited for hours in a line that shut down traffic in much of downtown Chicago, the mood of the crowd was joyful, friendly and energetic.
Supporters rejoiced throughout the night as Obama moved closer to a win.
"In one hand, this is just a simple victory," said Ginnye Thomas, a teacher in Chicago. "But emotionally, it is an honor to witness this."
Thomas, who was interviewed before the victory, said she was sure she would cry during the announcement.
Indeed, history was on the mind of everyone in attendance. The crowd was representative of the diverse swath of Americans on whom Obama has built his candidacy.
In his victory speech, Obama dedicated the win to his supporters, and he profiled young people as one of those groups.
Obama said the victory "grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy."
Across America, young people turned out in record numbers and helped shift critical swing states into Obama's column.
Several key swing states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, were called in Obama's favor early in the night.
"Young people came out because they believed they could make a difference," said Suchitra Prasad, a student at Northwestern University.
Baaba Grant, a student at Roosevelt University, said this election signified "the older generation now having faith" in young people's civic engagement.
Grant, who is black, described the election as huge.
"Black children have now been given someone good to look up to," Grant said. "Instead of just Michael Jordan or a rapper, they'll be able to talk about being the president."
In his final remarks, Obama called on unity once again, echoing his familiar themes of "one America" and the American dream.
"This is our moment," he told the crowd.
"This is our time … to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one," he said.
"And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't," Obama continued, "we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can."
The Illinois Democrat, who will become the country's 44th president, is the first African American to be elected to the position.
"This victory alone is not the change we seek," Obama said. "It is only the chance for us to make that change."
Unlike in the two previous elections, Obama emerged as the victor relatively early in the night, leading to an electoral landslide.
As of press time, Obama had secured 338 electoral votes.
Obama's wide margin of victory demonstrated that voters embraced his call for change and had largely overcome doubts about his experience.
The large crowd at Grant Park considered the election decided in their favor when the state of Virginia was called for a Democrat for the first time since 1964.
At that moment, the cautious optimism that had pervaded the crowd was removed, and emotional celebration took hold.
The crowd erupted in a huge roar when networks then began calling the election for Obama.
Despite having waited for hours in a line that shut down traffic in much of downtown Chicago, the mood of the crowd was joyful, friendly and energetic.
Supporters rejoiced throughout the night as Obama moved closer to a win.
"In one hand, this is just a simple victory," said Ginnye Thomas, a teacher in Chicago. "But emotionally, it is an honor to witness this."
Thomas, who was interviewed before the victory, said she was sure she would cry during the announcement.
Indeed, history was on the mind of everyone in attendance. The crowd was representative of the diverse swath of Americans on whom Obama has built his candidacy.
In his victory speech, Obama dedicated the win to his supporters, and he profiled young people as one of those groups.
Obama said the victory "grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy."
Across America, young people turned out in record numbers and helped shift critical swing states into Obama's column.
Several key swing states, including Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan, were called in Obama's favor early in the night.
"Young people came out because they believed they could make a difference," said Suchitra Prasad, a student at Northwestern University.
Baaba Grant, a student at Roosevelt University, said this election signified "the older generation now having faith" in young people's civic engagement.
Grant, who is black, described the election as huge.
"Black children have now been given someone good to look up to," Grant said. "Instead of just Michael Jordan or a rapper, they'll be able to talk about being the president."
In his final remarks, Obama called on unity once again, echoing his familiar themes of "one America" and the American dream.
"This is our moment," he told the crowd.
"This is our time … to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one," he said.
"And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't," Obama continued, "we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can."
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