Racial wall falls as first Afro American heads for White House
2008-11-05 10:23:41

In what is seen as a historic election that brought down centuries-old racial barriers, Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States of America. His rival John McCain in his concession speech congratulated him.
McCain urged all Americans to join him in congratulating Sen. Barack Obama on his projected victory in the presidential election.

"I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face," McCain said before his supporters in Phoenix, Arizona.

His vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin stood beside. She did did not speak.

With his projected win, Obama will become the nation's 44th president. Obama will address the country from a rally in Chicago, Illinois, in a short while.

The electoral college tally as of now stands at Obama 338 and McCain 155.

The Illinois senator will become the first African-American to win the presidency. Supporters in Chicago cheering, "Yes, we can" were met with cries of "Yes, we did." Obama's former rival for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Hillary Clinton said in a statement that "we are celebrating an historic victory for the American people."

"This was a long and hard fought campaign but the result was well worth the wait. Together, under the leadership of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and a Democratic Congress, we will chart a better course to build a new economy and rebuild our leadership in the world.".