OBAMA

WASHINGTON (AP)–Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation’s first black president Tuesday night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. “Change has come,” he told a huge throng of jubilant supporters.

The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his historic triumph by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in a string of wins in hard-fought battleground states–Ohio, Florida, Virginia, Iowa and more.

On a night for Democrats to savor, they not only elected Obama the nation’s 44th president but padded their majorities in the House and Senate, and come January will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 1994.

Obama’s election capped a meteoric rise–from mere state senator to president-elect in four years.In his first speech as victor, to thousands at Grant Park in his hometown of Chicago, Obama catalogued the challenges ahead. “The greatest of a lifetime,” he said, “two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.”

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.”

McCain called his former rival to concede defeat–and the end of his own 10-year quest for the White House. “The American people have spoken, and spoken clearly,” McCain told disappointed supporters in Arizona.

Obama, in his speech, invoked the words of Lincoln and echoed John F. Kennedy.

“So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder,” he said.

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.

Obama will move into the Oval Office as leader of a country that is almost certainly in recession, and fighting two long wars, one in Iraq, the other in Afghanistan.

Obama has said his first order of presidential business will be to tackle the economy. He has also pledged to withdraw most U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months.

Said Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California: “Tonight the American people have called for a new direction. They have called for change in America.”

ELECTION NIGHT QUOTES

MCCAIN CONCESSION SPEECH“In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.”

CROWD AT GRANT PARK IN CHICAGO:A resounding chant when Obama reached the 270-mark, “YES WE DID!”

PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA’S VICTORY SPEECH “So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.”

“… while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.”

“And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn–I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices. I need your help, and I will be your President, too”

PRESIDENT BUSH“You are about to go on one of the great journeys of life. Congratulations and go enjoy yourself.”

OREGON ATTORNEY GENERAL: JOHN KROGER:“Tomorrow morning I’m going to stand on the Hawthorne Bridge and thank voters.”

“Expressed his pride and excitement over the Presidential election results, “[it] was Oregon that put Barack Obama over the top.”

STATE REPRESENTATIVE TINA KOTEK: “I’m speechless. I’m just so excited about the future of our country. I know that sounds corny, but I’m just so excited.”

��-Staff and wire reports