Obama creates history, elected first Black President of U.S.

Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington, Nov 5 (PTI) Democrat Barack Obama Wednesday
scripted history capturing the White House in a landslide
trouncing Republican John McCain to become the first Black
President of the United States.

After an extraordinary nearly two-year election campaign,
the 47-year-old Illinois Senator, born to a Kenyan father and
White American mother, secured 338 electoral college votes
against 155 of McCain, according to CNN projections.

72-year-old McCain conceded defeat and urged all
Americans to join him in congratulating his rival.

In his concession statement in Phoenix, he said Obama had
his goodwill and he believed that the victor would make
necessary compromises to bridge differences and defend the
security of the country in the "dangerous world."

Obama will be sworn in as the 44th U.S. President on
January 20 next year, replacing Republican incumbent George W.
Bush at the end of his eight-year rule and marking a new
milestone in American history 45 years after the peak of civil
rights movement of Martin Luther King.

The charismatic Democrat, who had defeated Hillary
Clinton in the primaries to clinch the party nomination, led a
landslide expanding his party's majorities in both chambers of
the U.S. Congress -- House of Representatives and Senate,
rejecting Bush's leadership.

The Democratic winner immediately faces huge challenges
in the form of worsening U.S. economy and the mess he inherits
from Bush in the American war in Iraq.

McCain, the Senator from Arizona and a Vietnam War
veteran, called Obama over phone congratulating him on his
victory and extended his support to him.

Bernice King, daughter of assassinated civil rights leader
Martin Luther King, said her father would have been proud of
what happened in the U.S. today.

Obama, who voted for the Indo-US nuclear deal and favours
close strategic relationship with India, scored impressive
victories in the battleground states of Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Florida and California.

Tens of thousands of supporters of Obama gathered in Grant
Park in Chicago, his hometown, and danced, sang, hugged and
kissed each other in a carnival-like atmosphere reserved for
celebrity concerts.

"America is a place where all things are possible. Tonight
it's your answer... Change has come for America," he told his
cheering supporters in his victory speech.

The young and the first time voters, who solidly voted for
Obama, were present in strength in the Park.

With this emphatic victory, Democrats will hold a
monopoly in power in Washington occupying the White House and
gaining majority in the U.S. Congress.

Obama, a civil rights lawyer, has promised change in U.S.
policies and to engage with bitter foes like Iran and North
Korea. In India's neighbourhood, he has said that his
administration would target militant sanctuaries in Pakistan
if actionable intelligence is there.

The Democratic winner also has strong views on outsourcing
and is against job losses in the U.S.

After Obama's victory, Bush telephoned the
President-elect to congratulate him on his "awesome night."

"Mr president-elect, congratulations to you. What an
awesome night for you, your family and your supporters. Laura
and I called to congratulate you and your good bride," White
House spokeswoman Dana Perino quoted Bush as telling Obama.

In a statement, Hillary Clinton pledged her full support
to Obama. "In quiet, solitary acts of citizenship, American
voters gave voice to their hopes and their values, voted for
change, and refused to be invisible any longer."

With victories in battleground states like California,
Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, Obama built a
commanding lead over McCain, who had sought to distance
himself from the unpopular President Bush during the final
stages of his campaign.

Obama came into the national prominence with his
electrifying speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention
when he made his first run for the Senate. PTI
AM