President Barack Obama calls out to people outside a campaign office in Chicago, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012, after a visit with volunteers on the morning of the 2012 election
US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney waves to supporters awaiting his arrival at Pittsburgh international airport in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, on November 6, 2012. Democrat Barack Obama and Romney made last-minute appeals for votes as Americans trooped to the polls to decide a cliffhanger race for the White House.
He's president. Four more years in the White House
--
America’s first black leader beat Mitt Romney in the closely fought battle tonight to secure another four years as the most powerful man in the world.
As US TV networks reported he had won, Obama tweeted: "This happened because of you. Thank you."
He then tweeted: "Four more years."
Early indications suggested a long drawn-out election after tight exit polls in the swing states of Ohio and Virginia.
But the momentum started to swing in the early hours to Obama as he took Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
That meant Romney's only way to the Oval office was to take the crucial states of Ohio, Virginia and Florida to get over the target of 270 electoral college votes.
But Obama picked up the vital state of Ohio to end Romney’s bid to be the first Mormon to lead the States.
During the night the president's campaign made sure people did not leave voting queues early, urging its supporters on Twitter to #stayinline.
Earlier Obama and Romney had each grabbed early wins in states traditionally loyal to their parties.
Using exit polls, US television networks projected victories for Republican Romney in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Democrat incumbent Obama has picked up Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois,Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont - all states in which he was favourite.
ANGALIA MCHATO MZIMA HAPA.
Ready: Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan gesture to supporters and campaign workers in Richmond Heights, Ohio on Tuesday afternoon
Last efforts: Romney and Ryan grip workers'
hands as they make an unscheduled stop at a Wendy's restaurant in
Richmond Heights, Ohio
Not your usual cuisine? Romney and Ryan look at the menu while ordering at the Wendy's restaurant
'Running on fumes': Romney visits a campaign call center in Green Tree, Pennsylvania
Staying positive: President Barack Obama calls volunteers in Wisconsin as he visits a campaign office in Chicago, Illinois, on election day
Hopeful: President Barack Obama hugs a volunteer
during a visit to a campaign office in Chicago as people across the
country cast their votes
Last hope: Romney waves to supporters while
boarding his campaign plane at Pittsburgh international airport in
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Confident: Romney, who will return to Boston for
the results, said he thinks he will have a 'very solid win tonight'
although cannot predict which states will decide it
Ready: Republican presidential candidate, former
Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney prepares to cast his ballot at Beech
Street Center in Belmont, Massachusetts
Stepping up: Mitt Romney, with his wife Ann at
his side, casts his ballot for the U.S. presidential election in
Belmont, Massachusetts on Tuesday
Job done: Romney and his wife Ann emerge from the Beech Street Center after casting their ballots on Tuesday morning
All smiles: President Obama speaks to the media and reveals he is 'confident' that he has enough votes to win the election
Thankful: The president hugs a volunteer during his visit to a campaign field office in Chicago, near to his South Side home
Support: Obama looks at a commemorative 'Obama shoe' that a campaign volunteer asked him to sign outside the office
Getting involved: Vice President Joe Biden, with
his wife Jill Biden, right, and granddaughter Natalie, meets with
patrons during a visit to the Landmark Restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio
At ease: Customers laugh and chat with Biden as
he tours the Landmark Restaurant in Cleveland. He arrived in the city
minutes after Romney
Making friends: Biden kisses a woman during his impromptu stop in Cleveland on his way to meet Obama in Chicago
In the spirit: Second-graders Brayden Gentzyel,
left, as Obama and Harry Perkins, right, as Mitt Romney, from Valley
View Elementary School in the York, Pennsylvania lead a parade of
students around the school to encourage people to vote
Making a difference: Raena Lamont, 3, wears a
Captain America costume at a polling center doubling as a donation site
in the Staten Island borough of New York City
Having their say: A long line of voters waits inside the main branch of the Boston Public Library in Massachusetts
Determined: Voters crowd an apartment building
hallway as they wait to enter a temporary polling station in the Coney
Island section of New York after Superstorm Sandy closed voting stations
Keen: A light wet snow covers the roof and
ground around the Jenkins Town Hall as early voters casts their ballots
in Jenkins, Minnesota
A world away: Mike Wigart, 30, picks up his
ballot at a polling station in the garage of the Los Angeles County
lifeguard headquarters
Obama also spoke business, encouraging people to vote, whomever they choose to support.
'The first thing is vote,' he said. 'Regardless of who you’re voting for our democracy works when the American people get involved. The American people are decent, hard working, and they’ve got great instincts. The more people participate the better the outcome.'
Speaking at a campaign office in Chicago, Obama extended his congratulations to Romney 'on a spirited campaign'. But the president, who spoke with reporters after calling Wisconsin campaign volunteers from near his Chicago home, said he is 'confident we've got the votes to win'.
He was greeted by thunderous applause from volunteers, many of whom had tears streaming down their face, at the campaign office. During his phone calls, he told one volunteer to 'keep working hard all the way through', adding: 'Hopefully we'll have a good day'.
Support: The Romneys share a kiss after voting in Belmont - and ahead of final campaign stops in Ohio and Pennsylvania
Family: Romney hugs his grandson Joe, as his
wife Ann and son Tagg look on, after voting during the presidential
election in Belmont
He's off! Voters swarm Mitt Romney's car as he drives away from Beech Street Center to catch his campaign plane
Last-ditch votes: Romney greets a family before boarding his campaign plane in Bedford, Massachusetts
Heading off: Romney prepares to board his
campaign plane with his son Tagg Romney (left) for two last-minute stops
in Ohio and Pennsylvania
Excited: Vice President Joe Biden holds hands
with a poll worker as he emerges from the voting booth after casting his
ballot in Greenville, Delaware on Tuesday
Devoted: Biden holds the hand of his granddaughter Natalie as he arrives with his family to vote in Greenville
Heading out: Biden and his wife Jill wave as they depart New Castle, Delaware en route to Chicago to join President Obama
Talking it through: Republican vice presidential
candidate Paul Ryan votes accompanied by his children Charlie, Sam and
Liza in Janesville, Wisconsin
Are you sure? Ryan casts his ballot with his wife Janna, son Charlie and daughter Liza on election day in Janesville
Helping hand: Ryan meets with voters and polling volunteers as he casts his votes in Janesville accompanied by his children
Raring to go: Ryan gives the press a thumbs-up
while speaking to senior adviser Dan Senor on board the campaign plane
en route to Cleveland
Reunited: Romney and Ryan walk off Romney's
plane in Cleveland, Ohio. Ryan had arrived moments earlier on his own
plane and met Romney on board
Standing strong: Romney and Ryan pose with members of Ryan's family at Cleveland Hopkins International airport
There were loud boos whenever Obama's name was mentioned. 'With the right leadership, America is going to come roaring back,' Romney said. 'President Obama promised change but couldn't deliver it. I not only promise change, but I have a record of achieving it.'
In Des Moines, Obama savoured but also lamented what would be the last time he would ever hold a campaign rally – for himself, at least.
He declared: 'I came back to ask you to help us finish what we started because this is where our movement for change began.
'To all of you who've lived and breathed the hard work of change - I want to thank you. You took this campaign and made it your own. When the cynics said you couldn't, you said: "Yes we can".'
Queue: Voters line up to cast their ballots outside a polling station in the East Village neighborhood of New York
Long wait: William Wright, left, and India Johnson, both freshmen at Old Dominion University, wait to vote in Norfolk, Virginia
Crowd: The media watches as Congressman Todd
Akin vote at the Star Bridge Christian Center in Wildwood, Missouri,
where he is running for U.S. Senate
Creative: People cast their ballot at a polling
station in a laundromat in Chicago, Illinois as Romney and Obama battle
for the presidency
Fans: Three Obama supporters walk around the
south side of Chicago, Illinois wearing Obama and Romney masks holding
placards asking people to vote
Words of encouragement: Former Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice attends a Get-Out-To-Vote Event for support of
Romney in Davie, Florida
Getting ready: Residents wait in line in the
pre-dawn hours to vote at a historic property called the Hunter House at
Nottoway Park in Vienna, Virginia
Long wait: People wait in a line to vote in the
presidential election at a polling site in Arlington, Virginia on
Tuesday morning
Making a difference: Voters fill out their ballots at the First Church of the Open Bible in Des Moines, Iowa
Voting for two: Samantha Pelletier shows off the voting sticker that was placed on her pregnant belly in Bristol, New Hampshire
Dedicated: Voters fill out their ballots at Washington Mill Elementary School in Fairfax County, Virginia
Emotions high: Tears streaked down Obama's cheek during his last campaign rally Des Moines, Iowa
Smiles: In Des Moines, Iowa, Obama savoured but
also lamented what would be the last time he would ever hold a campaign
rally - for himself, at least
Emotions: Ann Romney wipes away tears during her husband's last campaign rally
Last stop: Romney waves to the crowd alongside his wife Ann at his final campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire
Embrace: The Republican hugged his wife Ann on stage as the crowd at his final campaign rally cheered
Sea of supporters: Romney speaks during his final campaign rally at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire
States of the nation: How the voting battleground could shape up coast to coast according to a round up of the latest polls
Early voters: Colby Klein, 2, seated on the
floor, waits for her parents to cast their ballots in Los Angeles as her
sister Astin Klein, 3
Do it right, Daddy! Scott Fera looks over his
ballot with his son, Conan, 4, after his daughter Quinn, 2, have him a
helping hand in Sacramento, California
No stopping them: Voters wait in line to cast
their ballots under a tent in the Rockaways in New York, which was hit
hard by Hurricane Sandy
Advantage Romney: The GOP challenger holds a
slender lead in national polls from Rasmussen (left) and Gallup (right)
released on Monday
Swing states: Rasmussen gives Romney a two-point
lead in Virginia, along with Florida and Ohio - one of the three big
battleground states that he almost certainly has to win
Looking to the future: Voters wait in front of
the Mt. Pleasant Library in Cleveland, Ohio early on Tuesday to vote in
the elections
Tough decisions: People vote at a polling site
in Toledo, Ohio on Tuesday morning as the men are almost neck and neck
in the polls
Choices: More voters gather around booths in Toledo to make their choice for the president of the United States
In line: People stand in line to cast their
votes as the polls opened at a precinct at the Wake County Firearms
Education and Training Center in Apex, North Carolina
Patience: People wait in an estimated two-hour
long line that goes down around the block to vote at a polling site in
Arlington, Virginia
Having a say: Voters wait for their addresses to be checked at the polling station at Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC
Proud: Penny the Boston Terrier votes with her
owners, Amy O'Neill (left) and girlfriend Michelle Nowakowski in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
PAMOJA NA ROMNEY KUSHINDWA AMEMPA PONGEZI MPIGANAJI OBAMA!!!!
Waving goodbye: Romney walks on stage to deliver his concession speech in Massachusetts
Concession: Romney waves as he speaks to supporters in Boston, Massachusetts
Embrace: Romney hugged his running mate Paul Ryan, as he and his wife Janna, right joined him and Ann Romney on stage
Backing: The somber crowd roared in support of Romney as he delivered the speech
Curtain call: Romney and his wife Ann acknowledge his supporters after he conceded defeat to President Obama
Coming home: Mitt Romney arrives at Boston's Logan International Airport on Tuesday night, as aide Garrett Jackson watches nervously out the window
Farewell: Romney is joined by his wife Ann and his vice presidential candidate, Paul Ryan and his wife Janna, right, as they acknowledge the crowd
A depressed supporter at Romney's headquarters in Boston collapses to the floor, reeling from the Republican loss
Letdown: Romney supporters looked increasingly nervous throughout the evening as he headed toward defeat.
Shocked: Romney's supporters can scarcely believe he lost the election
Silent: Republican supporters were despondent as all the major networks predicted that Mitt Romney had lost the election
At a loss: Romney supporters were in disbelief over Obama's win before midnight on Tuesday
Nervous tension filled Romney's headquarters before the announcement of Obama's projected victory
Nervous: Mitt Romney's supporters grew silent as the election results began to shrink the Republican's chance for a path to the White House
Warming up the crowd: Craig Romney listens to the National Anthem before he takes the stage in Boston to warm up the crowd in advance of his father's appearance
Revved up: Thousands of supporters turned up to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center well in advance of Romney's appearance on stage
The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center was nearly silent as news of the loss was reported
Grave: Supporters fear Romney could lose his presidential bid
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