Mr. President = Barack Obama
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Enough of the votes are in to call the United States presidential election of 2008. I don’t know if it qualifies as a landslide, but Barack Obama will be the 44th president of the United States. He has earned 338 of 538 electoral college votes so far.
Watch GOP candidate John McCain graciously concede the presidential race and congratulate President-Elect Barack Obama on a historic victory.
Watch the full Obama victory speech. Here’s are two presidential election summaries: “Obama Promises ‘A New Dawn of American Leadership’” and “Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls.” This Election Day felt cathartic, significant and decisive. The country needs a calm, thoughtful, optimistic leader in power right now. (Or at least a really good actor?)
As for the most annoying and expensive Senate seat race in the history of Oregon, Democrat Jeff Merkley and incumbent Republican senator Gordon Smith may not know the outcome for days. The vote count lead has been going back and forth all evening and may continue to be too close to call tomorrow. Recount?
Side note: I’m truly surprised by how smoothly the Florida election proceedings seemed to go this year. No screw-ups at all? Really? But we’ve been so conditioned to massive recounts and hanging chads and such. Oh wait, nevermind.
Congratulations to all.