Barack Obama will become America’s first black president after emerging triumphant from one of the most talked about elections I know of.
Obama made his vistory speech in front of 70,000 people at Grant Park in Chicago – and hundreds of thousands more outside – as TV networks simultaneously declared him the winner at exactly 11pm Eastern Time to bring an emphatic end to the Bush years
McCain congratulated Obama on winning what he called a historic presidential election. He spoke to supporters in Phoenix, saying that the election of the first African-American president shows that the U.S. has left behind the kind of bigotry that once stained its reputation. He also promised to help Obama lead the U.S. through the many challenges it’s facing.
Obama will be inaugurated the 44th US president on January 20, 2009, and inherit an economy mired in the worst financial crisis since the 1930s, two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and a nuclear showdown with Iran.
This historic win is going to change the world. This is part of what Obama said at his victory speech.
“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where any things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive … who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer,” he said.
He said his victory belongs “to you”.
He said the voters who turned out today did so because they believed this time “must be different and their voices could be that difference”.
He said America was not a collection of individuals, but “we are and always will be the United States of America”.
He said it was “a long time coming” but “because of what we did on this day” during this election, “change has come to America”.
He said despite the challenges ahead, including two wars and a financial crisis, he was hopeful for America.
“There will be set backs and false starts,” he said.
“I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face … “
He said Senator McCain had “endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine”.
He congratulated Senator McCain and Governor Sarah Palin for all they had achieved and looked forward to working with them.
I am excited to see how this election result pans out. For us here in New Zealand we have our own elections coming up on Saturday November 8 2008. Decision 08 or the New Zealand General Elections on Saturday will be a changing point for New Zealand as well. The whole world is in a moot of change and the election in America today will change the way America goes forward and whatever the result from the New Zealand Elections will change the way we go forward.
John Key and National is looking forward to working close with the new American government in a new free trade deal. Labour and Helen Clark is looking forward to working with Barack Obama in finishing a free trade deal which has been started with the Bush government and is looking forward to seeing many troops pulled out of war zones and increasingly seeing a world full of peace. It’s very interesting times ahead but from where I am sitting I see the world is looking for positive in the future.
To view Obamas Victory Speech Click this Link
well done, very clever