Obama says 'change has come for America'

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Nov 5 (PTI) U.S. President-elect Brack
Obama Wednesday said "change has come for America" and thanked
his supporters who backed him in his quest for the White
House, saying "tonight, it's your victory."

Addressing lakhs of his supporters in Chicago in
Illinois state, Obama said: "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."

Obama said his rival McCain fought long and hard in
this campaign and that he has "fought even longer and harder
for the country he loves."

"He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us
cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service
rendered by this brave and selfless leader," Obama said,
referring to McCain's sacrifices in the Vietnam war.

Delivering his victory speech, Obama, flanked by his
wife and two young daughters, remembered his grandmother who
had a "meaningful and enduring impact" in shaping his life.

His grandmother died on Sunday after battling cancer.

"And while she's no longer with us, I know my
grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me
who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them
is beyond measure," the Afro-American President-elect said.

The Democrat said he was never the likeliest candidate
for the country's highest office and that the campaign didn't
start with much money or many endorsements.

"Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of
Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the
living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston,"
he said.

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep.
We may not get there in one year or even one term, 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.

He said the country knew that the challenges tomorrow
will bring are the greatest of "our lifetime - two wars, a
planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century."

"Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are
brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the
mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

"There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake
after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make
the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for
college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be
created; new schools to build and threats to meet and
alliances to repair," Obama said.

Asking the people to summon a new "spirit of
patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us
resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only
ourselves, but each other."

"Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught
us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street
while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall
as one nation; as one people," Obama said. PTI SK
AM