US Election 2008 - McCain Oven Chips elected president

Jaxley wrote:

Outgoing President George W Bush has telephoned Obama to congratulate him on his "awesome night," says White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

McCain wins in shock election result
If you had kept up to date with the opinion polls, you would have expected to wake up this morning to the news that Barack Obama had become America’s first black president. To the surprise of everyone, the pollsters, the press, the public and not least of all the McCain campaign itself, the polls were wrong as Senator John Sidney McCain III (72) was elected America’s 44th president.
McCain’s happiness
At President-elect McCain’s jubilant celebratory rally, his surprise and happiness was noticeable as he thanked his supporters for helping him achieve this remarkable victory. “My friends, they said I had lost, they said my opponent would win in a landslide but you showed them nothing is inevitable. I will do my utmost for the next four years to ensure your faith in me was not misplaced. Thank you, thank you truly.”
“Very gracious”
Senator McCain also had kind words for his opponent, Senator Barack Obama,”In his concession call to me earlier this evening; Senator Obama called with his congratulations. We had a really good phone call. He was very gracious.
Senator Obama waged a spirited campaign, and he and his supporters can be proud of their efforts. Despite our differences during this campaign, we remain on good terms and it is my honest belief that this country is a better place for having a public servant of such good character as Barack Obama.
Cindy and I wish Senator Obama and Michelle and their whole family all our best wishes. America has spoken, and I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens. “
How it happened
The night started badly for Senator McCain with losses in Georgia and Louisiana, two states he had been expected to win. It soon picked up with wins in the three well-populated swing states - Florida and Ohio, both won narrowly by George Bush in 2004, and Pennsylvania, which went to the Democratic candidate John Kerry after previously being wrongly called for Obama. These were the states that McCain had to win to have a chance of seizing the presidency and they were joined by the two of the biggest surprises of the night- Minnesota and Washington. In almost all of the polls Obama had been leading in Minnesota and Washington and leading big. McCain’s victory in them was the first real time when McCain’s long-hyped looked like it could be a reality.
“High turnout”
Earlier in the evening several key states were reporting a heavy turnout. A total of 130 million Americans were expected to vote. Early reports from Associated Press claimed the national turnout was a staggering 75%.
If that figure is confirmed, turnout will be higher than in any election since 1960. About 29 million have voted early.
In Virginia, a Republican stronghold which Mr Obama had hoped to capture, Secretary of State Jean Jensen told reporters: "It's a phenomenal turnout." Unfortunately for Senator Obama, that phenomenal turnout did not include his much reported youth. The same problem didn’t apply to McCain as the religious conservative right, buoyed by the republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin voted in droves.

BREAKING NEWS:
Senior republican sources have just confirmed to the BBC that president-elect John McCain has been taken to hospital with chest pains. More news soon.