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Barack Obama says: 'Best is yet to come' Barack Obama says: 'Best is yet to come'
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama has pledged "the best is yet to come", after a decisive re-election victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.US President Barack Obama has pledged "the best is yet to come", after a decisive re-election victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
After a hard-fought campaign which highlighted America's political divide, Mr Obama pledged, as he did four years ago, to work with his opponents.After a hard-fought campaign which highlighted America's political divide, Mr Obama pledged, as he did four years ago, to work with his opponents.
Mr Romney echoed that call for unity as he graciously admitted defeat.Mr Romney echoed that call for unity as he graciously admitted defeat.
Voters also left the Democrats in charge of the Senate and Republicans leading the House of Representatives.Voters also left the Democrats in charge of the Senate and Republicans leading the House of Representatives.
In the electoral college, the state-by-state tally that determines US presidential elections, Mr Obama has won 303 electoral votes to Mr Romney's 206.In the electoral college, the state-by-state tally that determines US presidential elections, Mr Obama has won 303 electoral votes to Mr Romney's 206.
'People before politics''People before politics'
America's first black president sealed victory with a clean sweep of the most important swing states, including Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania. America's first black president sealed victory with a clean sweep of the most important swing states, including Ohio, Virginia and Colorado.
303 Barack Obama -33 electoral votes needed for Democrat win 206 Mitt Romney 64 electoral votes needed for Republican win
  • California 55
  • Colorado 9
  • Connecticut 7
  • District of Colombria 3
  • Delaware 3
  • Hawaii 4
  • Iowa 6
  • Illinois 20
  • Massachusetts 11
  • Maryland 10
  • Maine 4
  • Michigan 16
  • Minnesota 10
  • Nebraska 0
  • New Hampshire 4
  • New Jersey 14
  • New Mexico 5
  • Nevada 6
  • New York 29
  • Ohio 18
  • Oregon 7
  • Pennsylvania 20
  • Rhode Island 4
  • Virginia 13
  • Vermont 3
  • Washington 12
  • Wisconsin 10
  • Alaska 3
  • Alabama 9
  • Arkansas 6
  • Arizona 11
  • Georgia 16
  • Idaho 4
  • Indiana 11
  • Kansas 6
  • Kentucky 8
  • Louisiana 8
  • Maine 0
  • Missouri 10
  • Mississippi 6
  • Montana 3
  • North Carolina 15
  • North Dakota 3
  • Nebraska 5
  • Oklahoma 7
  • South Carolina 9
  • South Dakota 3
  • Tennessee 11
  • Texas 38
  • Utah 6
  • West Virginia 5
  • Wyoming 3
270 to win Results in full		 303 Barack Obama -33 electoral votes needed for Democrat win 206 Mitt Romney 64 electoral votes needed for Republican win
  • California 55
  • Colorado 9
  • Connecticut 7
  • District of Colombria 3
  • Delaware 3
  • Hawaii 4
  • Iowa 6
  • Illinois 20
  • Massachusetts 11
  • Maryland 10
  • Maine 4
  • Michigan 16
  • Minnesota 10
  • Nebraska 0
  • New Hampshire 4
  • New Jersey 14
  • New Mexico 5
  • Nevada 6
  • New York 29
  • Ohio 18
  • Oregon 7
  • Pennsylvania 20
  • Rhode Island 4
  • Virginia 13
  • Vermont 3
  • Washington 12
  • Wisconsin 10
  • Alaska 3
  • Alabama 9
  • Arkansas 6
  • Arizona 11
  • Georgia 16
  • Idaho 4
  • Indiana 11
  • Kansas 6
  • Kentucky 8
  • Louisiana 8
  • Maine 0
  • Missouri 10
  • Mississippi 6
  • Montana 3
  • North Carolina 15
  • North Dakota 3
  • Nebraska 5
  • Oklahoma 7
  • South Carolina 9
  • South Dakota 3
  • Tennessee 11
  • Texas 38
  • Utah 6
  • West Virginia 5
  • Wyoming 3
270 to win Results in full
Mr Romney could only snatch Indiana and North Carolina from his rival's 2008 grasp.Mr Romney could only snatch Indiana and North Carolina from his rival's 2008 grasp.
The final swing state - Florida - remains too close to call, as absentee ballots are still being counted.The final swing state - Florida - remains too close to call, as absentee ballots are still being counted.
The Democratic incumbent's lead in the national popular vote count was much slimmer - he had 50.3% to 48.1% for Mr Romney.The Democratic incumbent's lead in the national popular vote count was much slimmer - he had 50.3% to 48.1% for Mr Romney.
Thousands of Obama supporters hugged and cheered in the Chicago convention centre where he delivered his victory speech in the early hours of Wednesday.Thousands of Obama supporters hugged and cheered in the Chicago convention centre where he delivered his victory speech in the early hours of Wednesday.
"We have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come," said Mr Obama, 51."We have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come," said Mr Obama, 51.
He was returning to the White House "more determined, and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do", he said.He was returning to the White House "more determined, and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do", he said.
Mr Obama pledged to work with Republican leaders in Congress to reduce the government's budget deficit, fix the tax code and reform the immigration system.Mr Obama pledged to work with Republican leaders in Congress to reduce the government's budget deficit, fix the tax code and reform the immigration system.
He also offered to meet Mr Romney to discuss how they could work together.He also offered to meet Mr Romney to discuss how they could work together.
The Republican admitted defeat with a brief speech shortly after midnight on Wednesday in Boston.The Republican admitted defeat with a brief speech shortly after midnight on Wednesday in Boston.
"This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation," Mr Romney said."This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation," Mr Romney said.
The 65-year-old former Massachusetts governor urged politicians on both sides to "put the people before the politics".The 65-year-old former Massachusetts governor urged politicians on both sides to "put the people before the politics".
But Mr Obama's second-term agenda will lie largely in the hands of the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner, with whom he bickered bitterly during his first term.But Mr Obama's second-term agenda will lie largely in the hands of the Republican leader of the House of Representatives, Speaker John Boehner, with whom he bickered bitterly during his first term.
'Failures or excesses''Failures or excesses'
Mr Boehner told a gathering of Republicans: "The American people want solutions - and tonight, they've responded by renewing our [Republican] majority."Mr Boehner told a gathering of Republicans: "The American people want solutions - and tonight, they've responded by renewing our [Republican] majority."
Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, said voters had not endorsed "the failures or excesses of the president's first term".Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, said voters had not endorsed "the failures or excesses of the president's first term".
"They have simply given him more time to finish the job they asked him to do together with a Congress that restored balance to Washington after two years of one-party control," McConnell added."They have simply given him more time to finish the job they asked him to do together with a Congress that restored balance to Washington after two years of one-party control," McConnell added.
Mr Obama will also have to contend with Mr Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, who has confirmed he will remain in Congress as the Republican's budget chairman.Mr Obama will also have to contend with Mr Romney's running mate, Paul Ryan, who has confirmed he will remain in Congress as the Republican's budget chairman.
The president faces his first challenge when Congress returns next week to begin dealing with the so-called fiscal cliff, a package of automatic tax rises and cuts to military and domestic spending.The president faces his first challenge when Congress returns next week to begin dealing with the so-called fiscal cliff, a package of automatic tax rises and cuts to military and domestic spending.
Economists warn that the measure - set to be triggered in January unless lawmakers can find agreement - could plunge the nation back into a recession.Economists warn that the measure - set to be triggered in January unless lawmakers can find agreement - could plunge the nation back into a recession.
Mr Obama was re-elected with the highest unemployment rate - at 7.9% - for any incumbent president since the US wartime leader Franklin Roosevelt.Mr Obama was re-elected with the highest unemployment rate - at 7.9% - for any incumbent president since the US wartime leader Franklin Roosevelt.
The fragile economy was rated the top issue by about six out of 10 voters in Tuesday's exit polls. But most of them blamed former President George W Bush for the downturn.The fragile economy was rated the top issue by about six out of 10 voters in Tuesday's exit polls. But most of them blamed former President George W Bush for the downturn.
Turnout lowerTurnout lower
Voters also seem to have given Mr Obama credit for his 2009 rescue of the US car industry and for the commando mission that killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan last year.Voters also seem to have given Mr Obama credit for his 2009 rescue of the US car industry and for the commando mission that killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan last year.
Mr Obama's re-election also safeguards his healthcare reform law, which Mr Romney had pledged to repeal.Mr Obama's re-election also safeguards his healthcare reform law, which Mr Romney had pledged to repeal.
In other key ballots:In other key ballots:
  • Referendums in Maine, Maryland and Washington state approved same-sex marriage, while a measure in Minnesota to block gay unions failed
  • Colorado and Washington state voted to legalise recreational use of marijuana
  • California voters rejected a proposal to abolish the death penalty
  • In a referendum, Puerto Ricans voted in favour of becoming the 51st US state, if Congress approves the move.
  • Referendums in Maine, Maryland and Washington state approved same-sex marriage, while a measure in Minnesota to block gay unions failed
  • Colorado and Washington state voted to legalise recreational use of marijuana
  • California voters rejected a proposal to abolish the death penalty
  • In a referendum, Puerto Ricans voted in favour of becoming the 51st US state, if Congress approves the move.
Also on Tuesday's ballot were 11 state governorships, a third of the seats in the 100-member US Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives.Also on Tuesday's ballot were 11 state governorships, a third of the seats in the 100-member US Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
Mr Obama and Mr Romney, as well as their respective allies, raised more than $2bn (£1.25bn) - largely for adverts in swing states.Mr Obama and Mr Romney, as well as their respective allies, raised more than $2bn (£1.25bn) - largely for adverts in swing states.
Preliminary figures suggest fewer people voted than four years ago.Preliminary figures suggest fewer people voted than four years ago.
With most ballots tallied, more than 117 million people participated, compared to record-breaking figures of 131 million four years ago.With most ballots tallied, more than 117 million people participated, compared to record-breaking figures of 131 million four years ago.
Turn-out was down sharply in some states, including Texas, as well as states on the US East Coast that were hit hard by super-storm Sandy last week.Turn-out was down sharply in some states, including Texas, as well as states on the US East Coast that were hit hard by super-storm Sandy last week.
International leaders congratulated the president, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to work with Mr Obama "to ensure the interests that are vital for the security of Israel's citizens".International leaders congratulated the president, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed to work with Mr Obama "to ensure the interests that are vital for the security of Israel's citizens".