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Obama PHOTOS HY JONATHAN WAI.C/.AK- NHWS HDITOK Above, President-elect Barack Obama spoke in Greensboro Sept. 27. Both Obama and rival Sen. John McCain fouKht hard lor North Carolina, which Obama won by 11,690 votes out of more than 4 million cast. Sen. Barack Obama wins the presidency, marking an end to a historic campaign that began 21 months ago Jonathan Waiczak News Editor JMWALCZA@UNCA.EDU Americans made history Tuesday, electing Sen. Ba rack Obama the country’s first black president less than forty years after the end of the Civil Rights movement. “I have cried and am filled with glee that this day has happened in my lifetime,” said Vemice Francis, 57, a black office worker from Marion. Francis attended Mountain '^iew School in Marion until her sophomore year of high school in 1966, when officials integrated local schools. I can recall our teachers always telling us ‘You can be what you want to be,’ but at |hat time my thoughts didn’t include a black person becom ing President of the United States,” Francis said. Obama became the nio Democrat to carry North Car nlina in 32 years, winning by 1,690 votes out of more than News N.C. YES summit first in a 4 million cast. In addition to winning the presidency. Democrats in creased their majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives. Tuesday’s election capped off the longest presidential campaign in modem American history. Obama announced his candidacy on Feb. 10,2007. Obama fought Sen. Hillary Clinton, among others, for the Democratic nomination, and did not become the nominee until June. “I think Barack Obama win ning this election is one of the monumental points in the his tory of our nation,” said George Dobson, a UNC Asheville ju nior on leave. “He’s going to reform Washington not only as the first black president, but he’ll also go down as one of the best presidents we’ve had long time, I think.” Obama led rival Sen. John McCain in most polls this year. McCain jumped ahead Page 2 of Obama for about two weeks in early September, following the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. In mid-September, the .stock market began shedding thou sands of points, and Obama soon had a double-digit lead over McCain, with voters fo cusing on the economy.. Obama won in a landslide, capturing 364 electoral votes, capturing perennial battle ground states such as Ohio and Florida as well as several traditional Republican states. North Carolina’s emer gence as a battleground state this year surprised experts. The last time the state went ‘blue” was in 1976 when vot ers chose Jimmy Carter. Obama and McCain fought hard for the states' 15 electoral votes. Obama paid particular attention to the state, last cam paigning Monday in Charlotte on the eve of the election. While the crowd waited Monday in a cold rain, news News Amazing Savings PHOTOS BY JONATHAN WAl.C'ZAK- NliWS KDITOK Obama spoke .Monday in Charlotte 12 hours before polls opened in North Carolina. He began crying at one point while talking about his grandmother who died that morning. spread that Obama’s 86-year- old grandmother died that morning. Obama’s will be innaugu- rated Jan. 20, 2009. McCain now returns to the Senate to finish his current term, which ends in 2010. “If there is anyone out there Page 3 who still doubts that America is a place where all things arc 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 an swer,” Obama said in his vic tory spteech Tuesday night. Weather THURSDAY 72 43 SATURDAY 57 35 Obama in N,C. Nov. 3- Obama holds his sec ond to last campaign rally in Charlotte, following news that morning of his grandmother’s death. Oct. 29- Obama speaks in Ra leigh. Oct. 19- Obama holds a rally in Fayetteville. Oct. 5- Obama holds a rally at Asheville High School, speak ing to an estimated crowd of 28,000 supporters. Sept. 27- Obama speaks in Greensboro hours after the first presidential debate. Sept. 21-Obama holds a rally in Charlotte. June 9- Obama gives his first general election speech in Ra leigh, focusing primarily on the economy. FRIDAY 65 45 SUNDAY 57 34
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