Barack Obama became America’s 44th president resoundingly defeating his republican rival John McCain and made history as the nation’s first black commander-in-chief in a presidential election meant for the ages.

Obama giving his first speech as US presidential elect.
In his first speech as president elect to thousands of jubilant supporters at Grant Park in his home town of Chicago, Obama said, “Change has come.” He vowed to be a president for all Americans, even those who voted against him, and described the challenges ahead of him as the “greatest of a lifetime”.

“Even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century,” he said. “There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and, for us to lead, alliances to repair.”

He added, “There are many who won’t agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can’t solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face.”

He appeared on stage with his wife, Michelle, and daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, to give the speech before the multiracial crowd that city officials estimated at 240,000 people.

McCain called his former rival to concede defeat. The president-elect said he looks forward to working with him.

“The American people have spoken, and spoken clearly,” McCain told disappointed supporters in Arizona.

According to agency reports, President Bush added his congratulations from the White House, where his tenure runs out on Jan. 20. “May God bless whoever wins tonight,” he had told dinner guests earlier.

Obama, a first-term Illinois senator born 47 years ago, is son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas.

He and his running mate, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, will take their oaths of office as president and vice president on Jan. 20, 2009. nepalnews.com Nov 05 08