US President Barack Obama tells his supporters he returns to the White House “more determined and more inspired than ever”
After a bitter and costly election campaign, the Democrat easily overcame his Republican challenger Mitt Romney – taking seven of the nine key battleground states.
Mr Romney won in North Carolina but Mr Obama swept to victory in Ohio, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Wisconsin, Virginia and Colorado.
With Florida the last swing state left to call, he has 303 Electoral College votes to Mr Romney’s 206 and is well over the crucial threshold of 270.
Barack Obama has promised that the “best is yet to come” for the US after winning another four years at the White House.
After a bitter and costly election campaign, the Democrat easily overcame his Republican challenger Mitt Romney – taking seven of the nine key battleground states.
Mr Romney won in North Carolina but Mr Obama swept to victory in Ohio, Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, Wisconsin, Virginia and Colorado.
With Florida the last swing state left to call, he has 303 electoral college votes to Mr Romney’s 206 and is well over the crucial threshold of 270.
The President was also ahead in the national vote, with the country-wide exit poll putting him on 50% – two points ahead of his Republican challenger.
This is despite his popularity plunging since he was swept into the White House on a wave of hope in 2008 and unemployment standing at 7.9%.
Jubilation grew through the night in Chicago as it became clear Mr Obama was going to be re-elected.
Once Mr Romney had conceded by phone, the President appeared on stage to rapturous cheers as Stevie Wonder’s hit Signed, Sealed, Delivered played.
“In this election, you the American people reminded us that while our road has been hard, our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come,” he said.
He declared that he was returning to the White House “more determined and more inspired than ever… about the future that lies ahead.”
Before appearing in person, he had told his supporters via Twitter: “This happened because of you. Thank you”, and: “We’re all in this together. That’s how we campaigned and that’s who we are. Thank you”.
In a third post, he said simply: “Four more years” and posted a picture of him hugging his wife Michelle.
He also wrote an email, promising to “spend the rest of my presidency honouring your support, and doing what I can to finish what we started”.
“Today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests,” he said, adding: “There’s a lot more work to do.”
In Washington, thousands of well-wishers danced and waved flags outside the White House after the result became clear – chanting “four more years” and “USA, USA!”.
Crowds whooped and cried out “Obama, Obama!” and gave high-fives to complete strangers as election fever swept across the city.
The contest had been billed as one of the tightest races for the White House in decades but ultimately, Mr Obama won comfortably.
Romney campaign staff in Boston were shocked as Democrat victories piled up and Republican supporters looked increasingly devastated as they realised their dream was over.
The candidate, who was watching the result in the city, rang Mr Obama to concede once he lost Ohio and then briefly addressed the crowds.
“This is a time of great challenges for America and I pray that the President is successful in guiding our nation,” he said.
The Republican thanked his running mate Paul Ryan and his family, calling wife Ann “the love of my life” and saying “she would have been a wonderful first lady”.
He added: “Paul and I have left everything on the field. We have given everything to this campaign. I so wish that I had been able to fulfil your hopes to lead the country in a different direction but the nation chose another leader.”
Mr Romney had earlier revealed he had written a 1,118 word victory speech and claimed he had not prepared anything in case he lost.
Until last month, the Republican was considered to have little chance of ousting Mr Obama after his campaign was damaged by a string of gaffes.
However, a lacklustre performance by the President in the first television debate turned the race on its head and Mr Romney surged back in the polls.
The incumbent was much stronger in the second and third debates but it was not enough to derail the Romney campaign.
Better than expected employment figures last week helped bolster the Democrat and then fate also played a hand when Hurricane Sandy roared in.
The superstorm forced Mr Romney into the shade as campaigning was suspended and Mr Obama returned to presidential duties but the pair were still neck-and-neck going into the final day.
In the other votes, the Democrats won two more years control of the Senate and the Republicans were on track to do the same in the House of Representatives.
Two Republican Senate candidates, Richard Mourdock in Indiana and Todd Akin in Missouri, both lost their seats after making controversial remarks about rape during the campaign.
– Sky News