Obama Wins!
As of 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Dr. Jody W, Reed and his 10 year-old son Jody Jr., supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama watch election returns on a bigscreen television in an overflow area of Grant Park in Chicago, Tuesday,
November 4, 2008. (Photo: ©Charles Rex Arbogast/AP Images)
Senator John McCain conceded the election to President-elect Barack Obama at 11:20 p.m Eastern Time.
From a gathering at Ebenzer Baptist Church in Atlanta to street parties in Harlem, New York, to the Obama victory rally in Grant Park, from Chicago, hundreds of thousands of Americans cheered, hugged, and wept at the announcement.
In Chicago, chants of "Yes We Can," "Yes We Will," and "Yes We Have," erupted and a sea of waving hands and flags filled the air.
"The ultimate color line has been crossed," said MSNBC Political Director Chuck Todd.
We are waiting for Obama's victory speech.
Ohio, one of the biggest swing states, and the state that played a major role in deciding the 2004 Election, has just been called for Democratic Senator Barack Obama. This win makes it almost impossible for Republican Senator John McCain to catch up win the electoral college battle.
Pennyslvania and New Mexico have also been called for Obama. Swing states Virginia, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, and North Carolina have not yet been called. But the races in these states are close.
Upon hearing the news NBC Political Director Chuck Todd said, "Boy, that's a big one!" McCain did bring in Republican strongholds West Virginia and Louisiana. Alaska will be the final poll to close at 1:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
At Obama Headquarters in Chicago, the Senator's supporters are already engaging in hopeful celebration for their presidential nominee. Senator McCain has no plans to concede at this moment.
The Keystone State emerged as a surprise swing state late in the election as McCain made an 11th-hour push to put Pennsylvania’s 21 electoral votes in play and called it a "must-win." Pennsylvania hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 20 years. Both Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004 defeated George W. Bush in Pennsylvania.
Democrats usually depend on the large amount of voters in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to keep the state blue while the center of the state—called The T—tends to go red. But what has emerged from the early results in Pennsylvania is those red parts of the state—especially around Philadelphia—seem to have thrown a lot of support behind Obama.
On MSNBC, talk radio host Michael Smerconish told Chris Matthews that "the Republican party is out of sync" with the traditionally Republican areas in Pennsylvania. He blames this turn of events on McCain’s questionable decisions throughout his campaign. "I think the Sarah Palin pick came with a very high price in Pennsylvania."
McCain still does have a chance at victory, though the path will be difficult. Indiana, another swing state, is yet to be called. Crucial states like Nevada and New Mexico are still in play and are (now) must-wins for McCain. Virginia, normally a Republican stronghold, has the potential to be a huge swing state thanks to its 14 electoral votes.
The Scholastic Kids Press Corps will follow election results all day Tuesday. Kid Reporters will also be posting blog reports throughout the day. Follow it all online at www.scholastic.com/election2008 and www.scholastic.com/news.
Get the latest on national and international events, movies, television, music, sports, and more from Scholastic News Online.
Jack Greenberg is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
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