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President-elect Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, and daughters, Malia and Sasha, waving to the crowd at election rally in Chicago on Tuesday. (AP)
Last update - 14:10 05/11/2008
McCain pays tribute to Obama, calls for unity
President-elect calls on Americans to support 'new spirit of sacrifice'
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies
Tags: Israel U.S. elections 

Democrat Barack Obama, the first African-American elevated to the White House, told cheering supporters on Tuesday that "change has come to America" and congratulated defeated Republican John McCain for the long, hard campaign that he fought.

With victories in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and other battleground states, Obama built a commanding lead over his Republican rival, John McCain.
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In the measured cadence of a pastor, Obama called on Americans to
support a "new spirit of sacrifice."

"The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there," he said.

Quieting, then electrifying a huge throng, Obama opened with words of gratitude for the democratic process. "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer."



McCain, addressing disappointed supporters in Phoenix, at times suppressing boos for the Democratic candidate, stressed the historic nature of the election, noting that an invitation to black author Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House by Theodore Roosevelt had been viewed as an insult in some quarters.

"Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country," McCain said.

"Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth," he said. "Senator Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved
grandmother did not live to see this day."



McCain had targeted the battleground of Pennsylvania, won by Democrats in the last four elections, as his best hope of stealing a Democratic-leaning state but three television networks - CNN, ABC, and NBC - projected Obama would win there.

Obama won the presidential vote on Tuesday in New Mexico, defeating McCain in a swing state that has often voted Democrat in recent years but backed Republican President George W. Bush in 2004, Fox News projected.

Obama led in New Mexico opinion polls before the vote, sometimes in double digits. The victory give him the state's five electoral votes, boosting him toward the 270 needed to win the presidency in the United States' indirect system of voting for a leader.

Obama defeated McCain in Ohio, carrying a key battleground state that has backed the winning White House candidate since 1964, Fox News projected.

Most opinion polls before the election showed Obama with a narrow lead in Ohio, but the state, which provided a critical win for Bush in 2004, was
considered a tossup. No Republican has won the White House without carrying Ohio.

According to Reuters' latest tally, Obama has been projected to secure 200 of the 270 electoral votes. McCain is projected to have captured 121 electoral votes.

The projected losses leave McCain with little margin of error in his quest for the 270 Electoral College votes needed to capture the White House. He must win nearly all of the remaining battleground states, which were carried by Bush in 2004.

Earlier on Tuesday, Obama and McCain traded anticipated victories. The Illinois senator is the projected winner in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Vermont, New York, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Television networks project McCain to be the winner in Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, West Virginia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Obama victories in either Ohio or Florida, or in traditionally Republican states where polls show he is competitive like Virginia, Colorado, Indiana and North Carolina, would likely propel him to the White House.

Counting got underway Tuesday evening across the United States as polls across the country began to close, and American voters appeared set to break voter turnout records in what has been described as a historic presidential election.

CNN called the two states shortly after Kentucky and Indiana ended polling at 6 P.M. EST, giving the former's 8 electoral votes to John McCain, the Republican candidate, and Vermont's three votes to his rival, Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

Obama picked up four more electoral votes with a win in New Hampshire, a state McCain had hoped to win. McCain, meanwhile, picked up expected victories in Alaska, Alabama and Arkansas.

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      1.   Supposedly Zogby has already called it for Obama 00:36  |  Aphemia 05/11/08
      2.   To Early to Call 01:42  |  Sonny 05/11/08
      3.   Voting by Intimidation 02:16  |  Christopher 05/11/08
      4.   7 pm and the coverage is already ridiculous-CNN has a hologram! 02:19  |  Aphemia 05/11/08
      5.   How it is going in Harrs County, Texas 02:27  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      6.   To Aphemia - re Zogby 02:28  |  Arie 05/11/08
      7.   who`s who? 03:33  |  sb 05/11/08
      8.   Results are coming in 03:44  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      9.   #6 Zogby or no Zobgy, Pennsylvania just went to Obama 03:48  |  Aphemia 05/11/08
      10.   It over. G-d have mercy on Israel 04:25  |  Donna 05/11/08
      11.   Jews no Longer control USA 04:34  |  Faris Zaidan 05/11/08
      12.   As the results come in 04:36  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      13.   Obama Administration May Have Israeli Connection 04:37  |  MichaelF 05/11/08
      14.   Obama = Arab 04:40  |  F Obama 05/11/08
      15.   Hi My Name`s David Duke. I`m Running... 04:40  |  David Duke 05/11/08
      16.   Arie - You got the wrong Zogby 04:46  |  MichaelF 05/11/08
      17.   he`s won, he`s won, he`s won 04:59  |  newagenobluestoday 05/11/08
      18.   Uncharted Waters 05:01  |  guy 05/11/08
      19.   Obama = Death to Israel 05:03  |  F U Obama 05/11/08
      20.   Sad 05:04  |  :( 05/11/08
      21.   So far 05:09  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      22.   #6 Not that I care but the website says JOHN Zogby 05:20  |  Aphemia 05/11/08
      23.   Happy Days are around the Corner 05:26  |  Sonny 05/11/08
      24.   A bright new era in American history 05:42  |  Morris Valentine 05/11/08
      25.   The destuction of Chris Shays 05:49  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      26.   It is now clear 06:08  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      27.   Yes! Barack Hussein Obama the new U.S. President! 06:10  |  Maureen Ann 05/11/08
      28.   Today may be the Saddest Day in US History 06:12  |  Pastor Joseph 05/11/08
      29.   It is all but over 06:14  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      30.   Israel will NOW learn that it is not an extension of the USA 06:15  |  Jon 05/11/08
      31.   The "Solid South" 06:18  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      32.   Recount. all scam 06:19  |  N/A 05/11/08
      33.   Awaiting McCain`s concession speech, going to bed, happy 06:23  |  Aphemia 05/11/08
      34.   Proud day to be an American Jew 06:24  |  Jon 05/11/08
      35.   McCain has capitulated 06:25  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      36.   Yeah Baby!!! 06:29  |  Yosemite 05/11/08
      37.   Livni`s Turn Now! 06:38  |  Yosemite 05/11/08
      38.   Correction please Barack HUSSEIN Obama 06:39  |  Serenity 05/11/08
      39.   OBAMA PRESIDENT 06:43  |  CHARLS 05/11/08
      40.   YEAH. Finally! 06:43  |  Berlinchris 05/11/08
      41.   The End, and the Begining 06:50  |  Mark Lincoln 05/11/08
      42.   Prez 06:54  |  Jasper 05/11/08
      43.   Jewish vote goes 69% for Barak Obama!!! 06:55  |  US Citizen 05/11/08
      44.   #31, The South is still solid..unlike you 07:33  |  Pastor Joseph 05/11/08
      45.   Tears of Joy in the USA 07:41  |  Leeza Cohen Coleman 05/11/08
      46.   #41 Mark Lincoln no need to explain 07:48  |  Labhras 05/11/08
      47.   Shock and awe,slam dunk, regime change 07:51  |  Labhras 05/11/08
      48.   Easiest election to predict, ever! 07:53  |  Natallie Durson 05/11/08
      49.   Barak Obama makes History! 07:54  |  Nogah 05/11/08
      50.   US election 07:57  |  KT 05/11/08
      51.   John "Old Fire-Ball" McCain 08:00  |  Brendan 05/11/08
      52.   shwarze came - enjoy 08:45  |  white 05/11/08
      53.   Haters in Israel, You are Irrelevant 08:49  |  Lee Kaplan 05/11/08
      54.   Barack Bin Hussein wins! 08:55  |  Sameer 05/11/08
      55.   Tightening of screws 08:58  |  A.M. 05/11/08
      56.   AFTER THE FACT 09:01  |  indrajaya 05/11/08
      57.   WHO BELIEVES IN BRADLEY EFFECT NOW? 09:08  |  indrajaya 05/11/08
      58.   Overjoyed for the sake of the USA..... 09:11  |  Esther 05/11/08
      59.   Hurray! perhaps some hope for peace 09:14  |  Victoria 05/11/08
      60.   Most racist election result ever 09:15  |  civilized kid 05/11/08
      61.   Obama 09:16  |  Darrell 05/11/08
      62.   Oh Happy Day! 09:20  |  Clickfool 05/11/08
      63.   CONGRATULATIONS President Obama. Congratulations to the people 09:27  |  PETER SM 05/11/08
      64.   Pastor Joseph can`t see beyond the end of his redneck nose # 28 09:31  |  Clickfool 05/11/08
      65.   For Pastor Joseph, on American heroes # 31 09:41  |  Clickfool 05/11/08
      66.   Obama`s acceptance speech 09:47  |  Clickfool 05/11/08
      67.   Bathos 09:58  |  Clickfool 05/11/08
      68.   #63 Congratulations to you PeterSM. 10:07  |  Maureen Ann 05/11/08
      69.   Clickfool 10:09  |  TonyL 05/11/08
      70.   MAUREEN There was no FENCE till your friends introduced 10:17  |  PETER SM 05/11/08
      71.   Clickfool 10:18  |  TonyL 05/11/08
      72.   If the Etzis don`t like it it must be good for the world. 10:18  |  Andreas 05/11/08
      73.   The maturity of America. Finally a true leader. 10:20  |  Stephen. 05/11/08
      74.   CFOOL PUT your tongue away it is turning it is starting to smell 10:24  |  PETER SM 05/11/08
      75.   #44 `Pastor` Joseph. Stop your idolatry. 10:26  |  Maureen Ann 05/11/08
      76.   Stephen. 10:40  |  TonyL 05/11/08
      77.   Who gave vote for Mc Cain at the end 10:40  |  Serdar KASAPOGLU 05/11/08
      78.   FARIS RTHEY DID WHAT 10:41  |  05/11/08
      79.   Stephen 10:45  |  TonyL 05/11/08
      80.   ZAIDAN "THEY" did what?? Is this CAIR Taqiya already? 10:48  |  PETER SM 05/11/08
      81.   For Peter SM, a sore loser # 74 10:53  |  Clickfool 05/11/08
      82.   Goodbye, Joe the Bodger 10:58  |  Clickfool 05/11/08
      83.   #28 pastor Joseph 10:59  |  Mark B. 05/11/08
      84.   As a European, I am angry 11:04  |  Mark B. 05/11/08
      85.   CFOOL Sore loser?? Read@ 63. 11:12  |  PETER SM 05/11/08
      86.   TO DONNA # 10 AND OTHER PARANOIDS 11:17  |  Fauna 05/11/08
      87.   For Morris Valentine #24 11:18  |  S 05/11/08
      88.   For Peter SM, on your earlier message # 85 11:18  |  Clickfool 05/11/08
      89.   Congratulations America! Congratulations Mr.President Obama! 11:19  |  Alicia 05/11/08
      90.   KAPLAN which "Israeli haters " Care to quote from your sources? 11:21  |  PETER SM 05/11/08
      91.   CFOOL.Read some of your pompous bagging of the USA 11:32  |  PETER SM 05/11/08
      92.   #34 (Jon) : WHY "proud?" What does it mean for Jews? 11:48  |  Yaakov K. 05/11/08
      93.   #43: Yes, 69%, but WHY?!! 11:52  |  Yaakov K. 05/11/08
      94.   A historic night 12:06  |  Ben Alofs 05/11/08
      95.   Like seeing the sun again after 12:09  |  kiwi girl 05/11/08
      96.   white 12:15  |  A.M. 05/11/08
      97.   Time for us to do the same here 12:17  |  Tzfonit 05/11/08
      98.   "and the LORD will not hear you in that day.." 1 Samuel 8:18 12:17  |  mary for jews 4ever 05/11/08
      99.   Yaakov K. #93 You can`t get rid of your hate, can you? 12:21  |  S 05/11/08
      100.   Baruch aba - Baruch Obama 12:30  |  L A 05/11/08
      101.   THANKS TO ALL WELL-WISHERS 12:31  |  US CITIZEN 05/11/08
      102.   Change has come to GET YOUR OWN NAME 12:34  |  EVH 05/11/08
      103.   Free at Last 12:48  |  Bryan 05/11/08
      104.   #.79 TonyL. 12:56  |  Stephen. 05/11/08
      105.   Godspeed Mr. Obama 13:25  |  Palestinian in UK 05/11/08
      106.   Our Predisent, Barak H. Obama - A new era 13:46  |  Nephtaly 05/11/08
      107.   #73 really stephen thtas not how things get done in america 13:46  |  victor hardman 05/11/08
      108.   #11 you are wrong 14:04  |  Edith 05/11/08
      109.   #99 (S): It`s not hate; 14:17  |  Yaakov K. 05/11/08
      110.   Steven#104:" the economic meltdown ushered him...." 14:30  |  Esther 05/11/08
      111.   Stephen. 14:36  |  TonyL 05/11/08
      112.   # 98 mary 15:01  |  Axel 05/11/08
      113.   Spirit of Sacrifice 16:19  |  Janet 05/11/08
      114.   Bin Laden will have an open door at the White Hse 16:19  |  Christopher 05/11/08
      115.   Indescribable grace-and-greatness in Obama,,, 16:38  |  Esther 05/11/08
      116.   #65 Clickfool, correction on American Heroes 16:41  |  Mark B. 05/11/08
      117.   #73 Stephen...plenty of help from Washington 17:07  |  Lynn 05/11/08
      118.   FINALLY - A MUSLIM IN THE WHITE HOUSE! 17:09  |  HOORAY! 05/11/08
      119.   Serdar Kasapoglu 17:13  |  David israel 05/11/08
      120.   My answer to Yaakov #109 didn`t go through. So, again: 17:20  |  S 05/11/08
      121.   #114 Christopher and 115 Blindfolded HOORAY has it mixed-up 17:20  |  Mark B. 05/11/08
      122.   #102 EVH...."America" is a historical reference 17:20  |  Lynn 05/11/08
      123.   Haaretz, could you provide a clip of Bush`s reaction? 17:55  |  Palestinian in UK 05/11/08
      124.   #115 however esther of the burka what is needed is competent perf 17:59  |  victor hardman 05/11/08
      125.   change has come to the whole world 18:09  |  just beginning 05/11/08
      126.   Extremists Today 18:16  |  JEWFROMT.O. 05/11/08
      127.   # 118, HOORAY 18:39  |  indrajaya 05/11/08
      128.   Hamas says 18:44  |  Fahim 05/11/08
      129.   #111.TonyL 19:30  |  Stephen. 05/11/08
      130.   #128 - Hamas says.. 19:35  |  Col [Res] Cohen 05/11/08
      131.   seriously Zaidan? 19:38  |  jew 05/11/08
      132.   Curious Question 19:49  |  Christopher 05/11/08
      133.   Obama/Axelrod-Emmanuel the rebirth Black-Jewish Power 19:50  |  Jonathan Seer 05/11/08
      134.   Pres. Obama 19:57  |  Dik - Holland 05/11/08
      135.   #130 Col [Res] Cohen 20:11  |  Sonny 05/11/08
      136.   To S (#99): Haters of Jews! Haters of Jews! 20:20  |  Morris Valentine 05/11/08
      137.   Question Mark! 22:19  |  Paul 05/11/08
      138.   Obama 22:48  |  Teacher/Instruct 05/11/08
      139.   S, Kiss my S 22:55  |  Yaakov K. 05/11/08
      140.   To Yaakov K (#139): Muey macho 03:04  |  Morris Valentine 06/11/08
      141.   #140: No, I`m TOMORROW`s Jew; maybe YOU are yesterday`s! 09:24  |  Yaakov K. 06/11/08
      142.   #140: reply 2 -- Your `kind` of Jew lives elsewhere 09:29  |  Yaakov K. 06/11/08
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