In what can only be described as a breath of fresh air - a much needed turning of the page - Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States tonight. The nation's first black president, who hails from Illinois, home of President Abraham Lincoln, put together an Electoral College victory that includes Florida and Virginia, two states of the old confederacy (one of which - Virginia - was its capitol), and eight states carried by George W. Bush four years ago.As we approach 11pm on the West coast, Obama held very slim leads in North Carolina, another former confederate state. Montana is close as well, but seems to be trending for McCain.
But even without those three states, Obama's tally in the Electoral College is 349, the best performance in that body in 12 years. Among the states in the Democratic column are two (Indiana and Virginia) that haven't gone Democratic for president since 1964.
While tens of millions of votes still have yet to be counted, Obama currently leads McCain by a comfortable 5-point margin in the popular vote (52% to 47%). If that percentage holds, Obama will be the first Democrat since Lyndon Johnson in 1964 to receive over 50% of the overall national vote.
There were tears of joy in our household tonight, for America's decision on this historic day turns the page on one of the most abysmal presidencies in our history.
I'm exhausted (and a little tipsy) and my mind reels. I'll blog more tomorrow, but my fellow Americans, tonight we have taken one tremendous step in the direction of some much needed healing with the election of President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden.
