President Obama Defeats Romney, Wins Reelection Wed

President Barack Obama was reelected to a second term Tuesday, turning back a stiff challenge from GOP nominee Mitt Romney, who went into Election Day virtually tied with the incumbent in most of the public opinion polls. However, the outcome of the race, at least in the Electoral College, was not as close as the polls suggested. Obama, who made history four years ago as the first African-American to win the White House, was reelected along with Vice President Joe Biden more on his campaign’s ability to define Romney as the wrong person for the job at this time, rather than on the strength of an economy that's just beginning to show some life after the Great Recession of more than four years ago almost led to a collapse of the U.S. financial system.

With most of the ballots counted by 4:30 a.m. ET, Obama exceeded the 270 electoral votes needed for victory, with 303 votes to Romney's 206. The president also gained a small majority of the popular vote as well, 58,172,000 million to 56,144,000 million, or about 50 percent to 49 percent. In all, Obama won 25 states plus the District of Columbia, while Romney captured 24 states.In an echo of the contested 2000 race between Al Gore and George W. Bush, Florida's results were still too closeto call as of Wednesday morning. Unlike that race, Florida's votes this time do not define the winner.Instead, and as most everyone expected, the battleground state of Ohio turned out to be the difference maker. The 18 votes from the Buckeye State put the president over the top shortly before 11:30 p.m. ET. After that, he added to his lead with wins in Iowa, Colorado, Nevada and Virginia.

Just as he's had for the past two years, Obama will have the benefit of his party controlling the Senate, with at least a 51 to 45 majority and two independents, as Republicans failed to pick up any additional seats there. However, the GOP held onto the House with at least a 218 Republican lawmakers. Democrats only managed to pick up a handful of seats.The president was buoyed on Election Day by a large turnout of his core groups, including African-Americans, Latinos and young voters. He also enjoyed a ten-point advantage among women.

Speaking to supporters at his Chicago headquarters shortly after Romney conceded the election, a clearly fired-up Obama thanked everyone who contributed to his reelection and promised that better days were ahead for the country. “You’ve made me a better president…I return to the White House more determined and more inspired than ever about the work there is to do and the future that lies ahead," declared Obama.In Boston, the scene was quite different. Romney told subdued supporters, "I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes....but the nation chose another leader."I pray the president will be successful in guiding our nation," Romney said before being joined on the podium by running mate Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, and both candidate's families.

POSTED BY: DARRICA