ROMNEY ELECTED 45TH PRESIDENT"And this is huge.. we can now project that Mitt Willard Romney has been elected the 45th president of the United States. With the final projection in from Virginia, Romney has squeaked ahead with 49.9 percent of the vote to President Obama's 49.8 percent. Romney campaigned heavily in northern Virginia warning of Obama's cuts to defense, which is one of the region's biggest employers. Though Obama maintained a strong showing in the state compared to past Democratic candidates, he was unable to replicate his impressive 2008 victory."
Romney looked shaky at the outset of the evening, as he failed to flip Pennsylvania and lost Ohio by a razor thin margin. However, the Massachusetts governor made up ground with gains out west and in the Democrats' backyard: New Hampshire. Romney was also able to pull Iowa away from Democrats, though the president's endorsement of same sex marriage and his stance on immigration hurt him there.
President Obama ran a good campaign but was unable to overcome economic headwinds that have sunk incumbents elsewhere around the world, including Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy. The unemployment rate, which ticked up to 8.3% in August, has since dropped back to 8.1%, but has remained at what even he called 'unacceptably high' levels for his entire term.
While some in the camp will be happy that the worst case scenario of a Romney landslide was avoided, this will surely be a long night for the presidents and Democrats around the country.
FINAL TALLY:ROMNEY (R) 273OBAMA (D) 265REPUBLICAN PICKUPS: CO, FL, IA, IN, NC, NH, NV, VA
CLOSEST STATES:VIRGINIA - ROMNEY 49.9, OBAMA 49.8
OHIO - OBAMA 49.9, ROMNEY 49.7
PRESIDENT ELECT ROMNEY"It has been a long, dark four years for the United States, but today its decline is over! We stand here tonight not as victorious Republicans, but victorious Americans. This is our moment to restore our country to the values on which it was found. Our belief in the goodness and freedom of America propelled us to victory, and it will propel us to success over the next four years of my term. I believe in an America where every American believes in America, because thats the kind of America my father wanted for me. Thats the kind of America I want for my children, and their children, and their children's children. That was Ronald Reagan's America. That Abraham Lincoln's America. And thats the kind of America I will deliver to you. Thank you for your support, now lets go on to Washington and restore faith in this country!"
PRESIDENT OBAMA"To all those who stood four years ago, full of hope, and vigor, those who stood tall and shouted 'YES WE CAN!,' do not be discouraged. We knew we could do big things in 2008, and over the past four years we proved to ourselves just how big those things could be. Although I would have wanted to lead you for another four years, this was never about me. It was always about you - making your lives better. Four years ago, insurance companies could turn you away for a pre-existing condition, and now they cannot. Four years ago, gays in the military had to hide who they truly were, and now they do not have to. Four years ago, our auto industry stood on the brink of collapse, and now its competitive again. Four years ago, our global reputation was in tatters, but is now restored. President elect Romney will have the chance to make gains on our progress since 2008. Stand with him, because remember - there is no red America, nor blue America. There is just the United States of America! That has always been our dream, and that dream lives on into 2013 and beyond. Thank you, and may god bless you, and may god bless the United States of America."
