President Barack Obama has won his bid to remain in the White House for four more years.
On Tuesday night, news confirmed that Obama, 51, defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney — securing a crucial majority of 274 electoral college votes just past 11 p.m. EST, after Obama won the crucial swing state of Ohio. By Wednesday morning, Obama had secured at least 303 Electoral votes to 65-year-old Romney's 206.
In addition to Ohio, the President secured wins in similar up-for-grabs states of Colorado, New Hampshire, Michigan, New Mexico, Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia and Minnesota. The race in Florida remained too close to call.
The former Massachusetts governor — whose running mate was Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan — is expected to have a stronger showing with the popular vote.
Obama tweeted about his victory just past 11:30 p.m.
"Four more years." the 44th U.S. President wrote beneath a photo in which he embraces wife, First Lady Michelle Obama.
"This happened because of you. Thank you," he added. "We're all in this together. That's how we campaigned, and that's who we are. Thank you. -bo."
Addressing an overjoyed crowd in his hometown of Chicago past midnight on Wednesday, Obama said in his victory speech: "Tonight in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back . . .We know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.”
For his part, Romney called Obama just past 1 a.m. on Wednesday to concede, and addressed his own supporters in Boston shortly thereafter.
"“I wish all of them well, but particularly the president, the first lady and their daughters [Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11]. . . This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation.”
