BBC NEWS | The Reporters

Excitement in Chicago

Gavin Hewitt
5 Nov 08, 03:46 AM GMT

The mood in the crowd here at Grant Park is that the election is won. They believe that the projected wins for Obama in Pennsylvania and Ohio have clinched it.

I've just spoken to senior Obama adviser Linda Douglass. She says that the path to the White House for John McCain is now very difficult. She said that yesterday Barack Obama told his closest circle that they had done everything in their power to win.

Even so, it may be some time before we see Barack Obama. He won't appear before polls have closed on the West Coast. Otherwise it disenfranchises Californians.

Confirmation again tonight that the deciding factor was the economy. So many Americans reached the conclusion that the country was on the wrong track and Barack Obama was the candidate of change.

Comments

1. At 04:04am on 05 Nov 2008, Via-Media wrote:
While the economy pushed Obama over the top, I'm certain that this was a cumulative effect. An unpopular war, an incredibly unpopular incumbent, allegations of domestic spying, torture, negative campaigning...

Since although I lean somewhat to the liberal side, I do speak from the "middle way"; I do think that contrary to what many might think, this isn't necessarily a victory for the Liberal point of view. That will still need a lot of salesmanship. In our binary political system, the electorate is forced to choose between one of two positions, and often vote in opposition more than in favor on a candidate or party.

To put it another way, while the died-in-the-wool conservatives and the diehard liberals duke it out from the fringes, the vast majority is in the middle, either ignoring them or weighing their collective strengths and weaknesses.

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2. At 05:42am on 05 Nov 2008, coolnewsgal wrote:
watching the news and seeing history in the making, i believe that every nation in the world should that a cue, especually African nations were the 'old politics' continue to prevail. African leaders should learn to allow 'new blood' to penetrate the political system and break the vicious circle that has caused many pain and suffering. We in africa are happy to see change in the U.S.and hope it will spread to the four corners of the earth

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3. At 06:31am on 05 Nov 2008, Gary_A_Hill wrote:
There's excitement everywhere. In Oakland, California, people are honking horns and celebrating in the streets. I've never seen a response like this to a presidential election in 50 years of watching them.

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4. At 06:36am on 05 Nov 2008, YouTeeDeeH8r wrote:
we have just heard Obama address the crowds in Illinois on ABC....My wife is in tears and so happy that at last Americans have given a resounding signal to the World that they can embrace change and at last elect an African American.

Being a Brit in America tonight is a funny feeling - feels almost like when Blair and co won their landslide victory all those years ago...you know things are going to change but you're not sure how.

What struck me most was the crowd in Illinois- a mixture of black, white, asian, latino, young, old. gay and straight - now thats the real America, Sarah Palin - not your pathetic Joe sixpack, Hockey mum or the plumber dude!

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5. At 06:53am on 05 Nov 2008, Merthyrmiddleeast wrote:
Absolutely YouTee!

The Republicans are going to have to rethink their long-term strategy if they are ever going to appeal to the emerging America, an America that will by 2050 be a place where the minorities will be in the majority.

Here in Amman, the sun shines more brightly this morning. The students at my school (owned by Queen Rania) are wishing each other a Happy Obama Day.

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6. At 06:55am on 05 Nov 2008, middlecroony wrote:
Tonight don't over analyze, just be happy if you can, and hope for the best. # 4, i didnt like what sarah palin said most of the time but there are those people in the U.S and sad as it is they are as legitimate as me, so like Obama said, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and I will try very hard to ........

Also I live 30 minutes outside of Chicago, that's my city, and felt doubly proud to have the climax happen there. I feel connected again with the world and can't stop crying.

Since we are on an emotional high, thanks to everyone who listens to my @#%^& on this blog!

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7. At 07:03am on 05 Nov 2008, middlecroony wrote:
I have to admit McCain gave a good concession speach, even though he still had to shut up the hillbillys in the crowd.

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8. At 07:06am on 05 Nov 2008, Merthyrmiddleeast wrote:
Croony,

Cry away. No tears here but the smiles on the faces of all say everything about what this means to this part of the world and certainly to this city and its people.

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9. At 07:34am on 05 Nov 2008, middlecroony wrote:
Cheers #8, I can't go to sleep yet i can't wait to wake up tomorrow!

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10. At 07:43am on 05 Nov 2008, Merthyrmiddleeast wrote:
We are already enjoying our tomorrow here. Believe me, it's fantastic!

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11. At 07:54am on 05 Nov 2008, maestro76 wrote:
the rest of the world wanted Barack as president more than the US people, and i think the world will likewise benefit greatly.

i'll keep encouraging my fellow US citizens to learn about the world, travel, or just pick up a book.

slow process, but it is the only way to prevent our leaders from abusing their power.. invading and occupying other countries .. stuff like that

most Americans would say i'm unpatriotic, but i'm happy for the world today.

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12. At 07:55am on 05 Nov 2008, YouTeeDeeH8r wrote:
croony - yeah. did you notice the difference in the supporters tonight?

McCain, trying to be a good sport despite his disappointment, congtatulates Obama and his supporters boo and hiss. Obama congratulates McCain on a good fight and Obama's supporters applaud loudly- says it all really doesn't it?

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13. At 08:02am on 05 Nov 2008, maestro76 wrote:
YouTeeDeeH8r

McCain was respectful and gave a good speech.

if McCain had won.. i guarantee the people at Obama's speech would have boo'd and hissed too.

if you worked hard and long, gave money, and your guy lost, you'd be upset, right?

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14. At 08:26am on 05 Nov 2008, Merthyrmiddleeast wrote:
Like so many of those who jeered at the mention of the name Obama in the pre-election rallies, those who jeered tonight (a minority it has to be said) did not seem to be upset at their guy losing.

Judging by his wonderful reaction, I think McCain felt that too.

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15. At 08:34am on 05 Nov 2008, Arcadianspireite wrote:
Congratulations to Obama and his supporters - a well run campaign, far more dignified than the opposition, and possibly a sign for the future that people don't want negativity, they want inspiration and hope.

Now comes the really hard part (as if the campaign had been easy!) and Obama must turn the words into deeds and become the inspiration he has promised.
The citizens of the US have made their choice and now the world will be watching. As one keenly interested Brit i am eager to see what the promised change will be

Good speeches from both candidates tonight - is there a new maturity in the wind?

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16. At 10:19am on 05 Nov 2008, nomorefakenews wrote:
"the deciding factor was the economy"...

it sure is, and when Mr Obama is told to present the North American Union and a new single currency the "amero" to the public they may think its a good IDEA, just one small problem!!!!!

Bush jr signed the "prosperity and security parnership of north america" on 23march2005 in waco texas...usa,canada and mexico join in a union (like the EU).......aka the north american union.....is there really democracy?

they stand at podiums and wave their arms,pause for the cheers read a "script" that is written for them, how about this...can i vote for the script writers? can i vote for zbregiew brezinski, one of Mr Obama's advisors?

kind regards
nomorefakenews

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17. At 11:56am on 05 Nov 2008, jollygrandsamster wrote:
Okay, the hard work starts today and I believe that the although the new administration has its work cut out (thanks to GWB) it will succeed because there is no better alternative - as Obama puts it in his speech it will take more than a year or a term before they'll get there and I believe that to be the case - but it's going to be extremely hard and there will be a lot of mistakes made but you got to start somewhere

I wish Obama and his team my best wishes and to me he has made a difference - he has brought back some respect to the US in the manner of JFK & Bill Clinton and he hasn't taken office yet!!

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18. At 12:40pm on 05 Nov 2008, eightypercent wrote:

McCain's consession speech was marred by the boos from his crowd - but then that's the sort of behaviour he was encouraging until a couple of hours before.

Obama's acceptance speech was magnificent. He wasn't triumphant, just deadly serious.

A few years without the swaggering will do America a power of good.

Congratulations Obama team for a copybook campaign.

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19. At 6:08pm on 05 Nov 2008, geomapgirl wrote:
#13 - if McCain had won.. i guarantee the people at Obama's speech would have boo'd and hissed too.

They would. However, if McCain had won and congradulated his opponent, McCain's supporters would have still booed. That's the difference.

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