Obama wins

By Mary Daly

Published Nov. 5, 2008

Cheers of "Yes we can" were replaced with cries of "Yes we did" Tuesday night at Grant Park in Chicago after Barack Obama was named president-elect of the United States.

Obama made history with the win, becoming the nation's first black president. The 47-year-old senator gained enough electoral votes to become the nation's 44th president and the third to come from Illinois, after Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.

As of 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, Obama won 52 percent of the national popular vote and 364 electoral votes to John McCain's 47 percent and 174 electoral votes, according to Real Clear Politics.

Obama arrived at the Chicago rally in front of tens of thousands of supporters with his wife and daughters, as well as vice president-elect Joe Biden, shortly before 11 p.m.

"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.

Before his speech, Obama received a phone call from McCain, who will return to serve as a senator from Arizona.

Obama congratulated McCain and his running mate Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on their campaign and said he looks forward to working with them to "renew this nation's promise."

"Sen. Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for this country and I applaud him for it," McCain said at a rally in Phoenix. "I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face."

McCain commented on the notable value the election holds for the U.S.

"This is a historic election and I recognize the special significance it has for African Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight," he said. "Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on earth."

State representative-elect Chris Kelly, D-Columbia, also discussed the value of Obama's election.

"It's a historic, wonderful night," Kelly said. "It's a pretty big sweep. The election of Barack Obama will change America forever."

Young Democrats of Missouri President Rick Puig was barely able to verbalize his excitement.

"It's not just a victory for African Americans," Puig said. "It's a victory for this country and I just couldn't be more proud."

He went on to say the turnout of young voters he saw exceeded his expectations.

"It's a validation of the efforts of all young political organizations, and I think 2008 will be remembered as the year young people owned that election," Puig said.

Nate Kennedy, Young Democrats of Missouri College Federation chairman, also said the youth voter turnout was more than he has ever seen.

"I think all our efforts were definitely worthwhile," he said.

In his speech, Obama dedicated his victory partially to the young voters.

"It grew in strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy," he said. "This is your victory."

Despite its historical role as a presidential bellwether, Missouri chose McCain over Obama by a razor thin margin, or about 6,000 votes, with all precincts reporting.

Obama won Boone County with a 12 percent lead over McCain.

Since the 1904 presidential election, Missouri has voted every year for the winner of the presidential election, with the exception of the 1956 election between Democrat Adlai Stevenson and Republican Dwight D. Eisenhower.

"It's always nerve-wracking to be a Missouri Democrat on election night because of all the rural counties," Kennedy said. "But when Boone County and Kansas City and St. Louis come in, that's when the race tightens."

Congressman-elect Blaine Luetkemeyer said the results were disappointing.

"We are going to have to work with president-elect Obama," Luetkemeyer said. "If he does all the things he promised to do, it'll be a bad time because he'll take us down a wrong road toward socialism. We'll just have to see how it plays out."

Obama also said he is looking past his victory to how his term will progress.

"This victory alone is not the change we seek," Obama said. "It is only the chance for us to make that change."