The Triangle

Issue date: 11/7/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Dave Hernandez

Media Credit: Ian McDonald

Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama has won the votes necessary to become the new president-elect of the United States, defeating the Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Although the results of the race in Missouri have yet to be called, Obama has secured 364 electoral votes, placing him over the 270 votes necessary to win. Additionally, McCain has won 46 percent of the popular vote to Obama's 52 percent.

This election marks many first-time events, including the first African-American president, the first president born in the non-continental United States and the first female Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Gov. Sarah Palin (Alaska).

Additionally, the Wall Street Journal reported that Democrats have gained five seats in the Senate for a total of 57, three away from the filibuster-ending majority of 60. In the House of Representatives, Democrats are expected to gain 19 seats more than their current 235-199 margin.

In his concession speech, McCain said, "I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating [Obama], but offer our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited."

Speaking in Chicago, Ill. in his victory speech, Obama said: "Let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. … Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. …What we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

Sean Miller, president of the Drexel Democrats, called Obama's victory a "tremendous night" and said the victory "hasn't really set in." He also said he was proud of Drexel University; according to Miller, 2,100 of the 2,800 registered voters on campus went to the polling places this election day.

To the Republicans, Miller said, "If it's any party that knows what they're feeling like, it's the Democratic Party … I hope they'll see that [Obama] has America's future on his mind. … It's time for unity."

On the future of the Drexel Democrats, Miller said the group will hold internal elections to replace their leaving officers and participate more in volunteer service in the community. He said they will plan "grassroots-type volunteering" in addition to voting and support for local and national democratic candidates.

"[I] congratulate Drexel on a tremendous day; [it is] something everyone should be proud of," Miller said.

Michael Hess, chairman of the Drexel Republicans, said on Obama's victory that he was, "pretty disappointed," but added that McCain's loss, "wasn't completely unexpected."

Congress was also of concern to Hess. He said a larger majority in the Senate would be, "Dangerous to the country's health … [it was] encouraging they didn't get 60."

He also looked ahead to 2010 and said he hoped for an effect similar to that of the Clinton era. Hess called for a Republican Congress that would balance out the democratic presidency.

Hess said it "didn't look good" when the results of the Pennsylvania election were announced and that the election was a "done deal" when they called Ohio.

For the future of the Drexel Republicans, Hess said they will try to bring speakers to campus and show students, "other ways to participate in the political process." He and the Republicans will be highlighting the issues and keeping voters informed.

Though on the other side of the spectrum, Hess called Obama "a very respectable man." "[I am] looking forward to the next four years under Obama … there could have been worse candidates," Hess said.

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