#Low Graphics A to Z BBC Help Terms of Use British Broadcasting Corporation BBC Home Accessibility links * Skip to content * Skip to local navigation * Skip to bbc.co.uk navigation * Skip to bbc.co.uk search * Help * Accessibility Help BBC News Updated every minute of every day watch One-Minute World News News Front Page [USEMAP:v3_map_americas_rb.gif] Africa Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East South Asia UK Business Health Science & Environment Technology Entertainment Also in the news ----------------- Video and Audio ----------------- Have Your Say In Pictures Country Profiles Special Reports Related BBC sites * Sport * Weather * On This Day * Editors' Blog * BBC World Service Languages * Espanol * Brazil * Caribbean * More Page last updated at 19:29 GMT, Wednesday, 5 November 2008 E-mail this to a friend Printable version World leaders hail Obama triumph [_45175128_obamafamily512.jpg] Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement Barack Obama speaks to jubilant crowds at his victory rally in Chicago World leaders have hailed the election of Senator Barack Obama as the first black president of the United States. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown called Tuesday's poll historic and said he and Mr Obama "share many values". Chinese President Hu Jintao said he looked forward to strengthening dialogue. France's Nicolas Sarkozy said the poll had raised "enormous hope". Outgoing US President George W Bush said Mr Obama could count on "complete co-operation" during the transition. The president-elect will take over the presidency in January. Democratic officials quoted by the Associated Press news agency say Illinois Congressman Rahm Emanuel has been offered the job of Mr Obama's White House chief-of-staff. [_45177431_c646d848-c887-4311-8cb7-65e56b0f29ee.jpg] Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Bush congratulates Obama It is not known whether Mr Emanuel - a former aide in President Bill Clinton's administration - has accepted. Besides winning the presidency, the Democrats tightened their grip on Congress. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed both Mr Obama's victory and her party's gains, saying the American people had spoken out "loudly and clearly" for change. Blessing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was looking forwards "to an era of renewed partnership and a new multilateralism". OBAMA GAINS Ohio New Mexico Iowa Virginia Florida Colorado Nevada Indiana Election results in full Democrats tighten Senate grip In pictures: Result reaction In quotes: US election reaction In Kenya - the birthplace of Mr Obama's father - President Mwai Kibaki declared a national holiday on Thursday. Pope Benedict XVI asked for "God's blessings on the American people". The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says Americans have made two fundamental statements about themselves - that they are profoundly unhappy with the status quo, and that they are slamming the door on the country's racial past. At the White House, Mr Bush told reporters: "History was made yesterday." He congratulated the president-elect on an "impressive victory" and said it represented strides "toward a more perfect union". From red to blue On election night, Mr Obama appeared with his family, and his running mate Joe Biden, in Grant Park, Chicago. He told tens of thousands of jubilant supporters: "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." An Indonesian woman looks at a poster of Barack Obama, 5 November 2008 Mr Obama's victory was celebrated in many countries But he added: "Even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century." Mr Obama captured the key battleground states of Pennsylvania and Ohio, before breaking through the winning threshold of 270 electoral college votes at 0400 GMT, when projections showed he had also taken California and a string of other states. Then came the news that he had also seized Florida, Virginia and Colorado - all of which voted Republican in 2004 - turning swathes of the map from red to blue. Projected results have yet to be announced for the states of North Carolina and Missouri, which are believed to be too close to call. HAVE YOUR SAY I find myself strangely emotional about this. I want to go wake up my neighbours and hug them Amy Scullane, Boston Send us your comments But with most precincts tallied, Mr Obama's share of the popular vote stands at 52.3%, compared with Mr McCain's 46.4%. Turnout was reported to be extremely high - in some places "unprecedented". It was predicted 130 million Americans, or more, would vote - more than for any election since 1960. Many people said they felt they had voted in a historic election - and for many African-Americans the moment was especially poignant. John Lewis, an activist in the civil rights era who was left beaten on an Alabama bridge 40 years ago, told Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church: "This is a great night. It is an unbelievable night. It is a night of thanksgiving." The entire US House of Representatives and a third of US Senate seats were also up for grabs. The Democrats increased their Senate majority by five seats, but fell short of the 60 needed to stop blocking tactics by Republicans. They also increased their majority in the House of Representatives. __________________________________________________________________ Send your video reactions to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. Bookmark with: * Delicious * Digg * reddit * Facebook * StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version Print Sponsor FULL ELECTION COVERAGE Electoral College votes Winning post 270 Obama - Democrat 365 McCain - Republican 173 Select from the list below to view state level results. [Select a state] GO Full election results KEY STORIES World leaders hail Obama triumph Full text: Obama's victory speech Missouri loses bellwether status Six-term senator loses in Alaska Democrats score huge Congress win California bans same-sex marriage ANALYSIS Barack Obama, 21 July, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa Dream come true How Obama defied the past to shape the future The US election in figures The shape of Obama's new team Sarah Palin's next move Obama victory offers hope to Iran What next for the Republicans? Why Obama took the White House Challenges ahead Inside the presidential in-tray BLOGS HAVE YOUR SAY Barack Obama's new administration Readers' views from around the world VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS Barack Obama makes video address Obama makes YouTube address John McCain and Barack Obama Obama and McCain vow to 'fix US' Barack Obama Obama's victory speech in full RELATED INTERNET LINKS John McCain's official website Barack Obama's official website The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW * SHARED * READ * WATCHED/LISTENED * Do the dead outnumber the living? * Cardboard Ayatollah lampooned * 7 billion people and you: What's your number? * Viewpoint: The connected workforce * Fireman stands in for air control Most popular now, in detail * SHARED * READ * WATCHED/LISTENED * Do the dead outnumber the living? * Europe hit by Russia gas shortage * Briton 'seen falling from liner' * UN 'to vote on Syria resolution' * Anger over NY police Muslim memo * Much of Britain braced for snow * Week in pictures: 28 January-3 February * Artist set for Facebook windfall * Thousands in rival Moscow marches * The 'new homeless' of Greece Most popular now, in detail * SHARED * READ * WATCHED/LISTENED * video Heavy rains cause havoc in Australia * video US treasure hunters seek lost platinum * video Dog's death ends cat owner battle * video One-minute World News * video Temperatures 'set to reach -12' * video 'Flying people' and other tech news * video Tourists staying away from Egypt * video Russian fuel supplies shortage * video Elderly 'must take cold seriously' * video Cardboard Ayatollah lampooned Most popular now, in detail FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS Saudi women wait in line in the 'women section' at of a resturant in the 'Faysalia' mall in Riyadh City FROM TODAY >> Secret kingdom Undercurrents in Saudi society Danielle and her mother Four-pig wife An edible dowry for an Australian bride in PNG Duff McKagan Sobering up Guns N' Roses' bassist McKagan's 'wake-up call' Most Popular Now Most Popular Now | 65,057 people are reading stories on the site right now."; Skip to top PRODUCTS & SERVICES * E-mail news * Mobiles * Widgets & Alerts * News feeds * Podcasts Search term: ____________________ Search bbc.co.uk navigation * News * Sport * Weather * Travel * TV * Radio * More * CBBC * CBeebies * Comedy * Food * Health * History * Learning * Music * Science * Nature * Local * Northern Ireland * Scotland * Wales * Full A-Z of BBC sites Site links * News Sources * About BBC News BBC links * About the BBC * BBC Help * Contact Us * Accessibility Help * Terms of Use * Careers * Privacy & Cookies * Advertise With Us * Ad Choices BBC (c) 2012 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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