FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right: Barack Obama President-Elect of the United States

11.04.2008

Barack Obama President-Elect of the United States

by Sean Quinn @ 11:00 PM

Barack Obama passes 270 electoral votes, defeats John McCain, and will become 44th President of the United States.

A breathtaking moment.

262 comments

Lindsey said...: And, it matters (a little) less now than it did about 20 minutes ago, I'm a white guy.; November 4, 2008 11:23 PM
Consultant X said...: Socialism is wrong in theory and in practice; it is the opposite of the the individual right to pursue happiness.; November 4, 2008 11:23 PM
Jamas said...: Congratulations President Elect and congratulations to all who sought and fought for this chance. Keep the momentum and let us realize the changes America needs!; November 4, 2008 11:24 PM
Brian said...: I would like to see Joe the Plumber right now. I hope he's at the McCain rally.; November 4, 2008 11:24 PM
Vinny said...: Did one of them just scream "Palin 2012"?

Wow.; November 4, 2008 11:24 PM
Dr. Matt said...: THE REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; November 4, 2008 11:24 PM
other Michael said...: Great concession speech from McCain.
The crowd contains some less admirable members, though.; November 4, 2008 11:24 PM
Dave-london said...: Erik Garcia said...
Barack me Obamadeus

Best. Post. Ever

perfect JM consession speech, if he had that done a few weeks ago he might have won.

tonight i think you chosen a gvmt of the people, by the people, for the people.

right am off to bed to stop crying.; November 4, 2008 11:24 PM
Gen Sherman said...: Why? OMG. Why couldn't McCaine run a campaign like the concession speech he gave? He would've been so much more competitive. Almost like eight years ago.

Still, Obama was the right choice.; November 4, 2008 11:24 PM
Todd U said...: We did it! I would have never thought it possible that Obama could be elected president a few years ago when it looked like this country was firmly going in he opposite direction. I will remember this day forever. It's a truly historic and wonderful moment.

Thanks Nate and Sean for your great efforts! It's amazing that a homegrown site such as yours can out compete the millions put in by the networks by utilizing the most sophisticated and methodical statistical methods. Great job.; November 4, 2008 11:24 PM
goatdan said...: Was Palin just getting booed??; November 4, 2008 11:25 PM
The Mr. Young said...: I'm trying to choke back my tears! Never in my life did I think this was possible. I am so proud in this moment!; November 4, 2008 11:25 PM
Andrew said...: Our finest hour. I promise to live up to it. The real work is now. Let's do it.; November 4, 2008 11:25 PM
bamaObama said...: Change done come, children, change done come. Thank God almighty, we are all free at last.; November 4, 2008 11:25 PM
Dr. Matt said...: Palin, bite my arse!!!!!!!!!!

Palin, bite my arse!!!!!!!!!!

Palin, bite my arse!!!!!!!!!!

Palin, bite my arse!!!!!!!!!!

Palin, bite my arse!!!!!!!!!!; November 4, 2008 11:25 PM
RWD said...: President Obama! It's hard not to be verklempt at this moment. Talk amongst yourselves.; November 4, 2008 11:26 PM
David said...: I am surprised Caribou Barbie didn't trot out her kids for one last night of exploitation.; November 4, 2008 11:26 PM
Bex of Ambridge said...: gm sherman completely agree.

THIS was the McCain that could have given BHO a run for his money.

(Thank goodness he didn't though...); November 4, 2008 11:26 PM
St. Nick said...: We did it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuhpO9xG2MY; November 4, 2008 11:26 PM
Randall said...: First!!!; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
furpurrson said...: GLORY HALLELUJAH!

Thank you, America!

Yes We Can, and Yes We DID!

I am SO proud to be an American right now.

And yes, let's salute Mr. McCain for being gracious in defeat. It is a great night for America and for the world!; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
Chuck said...: I have to say, I never thought I'd live to see a black man become president. Maybe we're starting to get civilized after all.

That said, let's not forget that Emperor Bushius I has left a big, steaming pile of legacy in the White House for Obama and Biden to deal with. Even as we write this, Junior is wearing out his pen issuing Imperial Directives to move us closer to a police state at the Federal level and gut environmental protection laws to benefit his corporate cronies (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/opinion/04tue1.html?ref=opinion). Winning the White House (and, apparently, securing large majorities in the House and Senate) is only the first step in undoing eight years of insanity.

On the other hand: the fact that we have elected a black man named Barack Obama to the highest office in the land is going to be a major public relations setback for this country's enemies. The image of America as a land of racist bigots is going to be a much harder sell.; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
Ben said...: Man, Nate, your projections were RIGHT ON THE MONEY!!; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
Mikeydillywomber said...: Woot Woot!!!; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
athena said...: this is something that i never thought i would see in my lifetime. i am 45 years old and shocked and happy as hell.; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
Zack said...: Glad to see McCain show some class. What a shame that the crowd is being so rude.; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
alli said...: thank you Nate, Sean and Brett - you made this election cycle so much fun; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
perpetualmemoryloss said...: Hellz yeah. Nice to see my generation exert some influence.; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
Dave-london said...: what polls are coming out tommorrow?; November 4, 2008 11:27 PM
pologrrrl9 said...: McCain has never sounded more sincere this entire campaign than he does right now in his concession speech. He is a good man; but America made a choice, the right choice for right now.

Tears of joy for Barack Obama... I feel so privileged so witness this!!!; November 4, 2008 11:28 PM
Mike said...: Great speech by McCain, but is it bad that their boo's are making me smile???; November 4, 2008 11:28 PM
broberts said...: CNN just called FL; November 4, 2008 11:28 PM
Nyjer said...: Yes we can, but more importantly yes we did. President elect Barack Hussein Obama!!!!! Woooooooo!; November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
oct said...: 375 EV?

What is Real Joe's Secret?; November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
Matthew H said...: Awesome, awesome speech by McCain.

Glad to see at the end, he was all class. Willing to wager that he won't be suing, either.

On the other hand, his crowd...bleah. I wonder if he regrets aiming for that segment of the population?; November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
A friend from Canada said...: AMAZING STUFF AMERICA!! IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE WE HAVE WITNESSED YOUR BEAUTY! WE SEE YOU SHINING TONIGHT! ALL THE BEST FROM OUR CANADIAN NEIGHBORHOOD - XOXOXOXOXO!!; November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
goatdan said...: Holy shit. That speech was truly amazing and inspiring, moreso than any others that I heard. I can't believe it came from John McCain.; November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
Anthony said...: 98.9% doesn't lie.; November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
Doug B said...: McCain's concession speech was gracious and classy. Wish I could say the same for his audience -- assholes.; November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
brianfaucher said...: Now that Obama is officially the President-Elect, I would like to remind all the haters out there that death threats against Obama are now considered TREASON... please keep that in mind for those of you who screamed "Country First!" The leader of the country will now be the man you were insulting and threatening (and still booing during McCain's concession speech!!); November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
Dr. Matt said...: Faux, where is Joe the Plumber?; November 4, 2008 11:29 PM
Mary said...: McCain is a good man. Some of his supporters, though... what disgusting, rude jerks they are.
eakerate - no more eakin' out-a win for McCain... ;); November 4, 2008 11:30 PM
Bozo said...: I have a new favorite irony of this campaign. At first I liked the idea that they couldn't play the race card against Obama because they had cast him as an elitist.

But now my favorite irony is that the Republicans denigrated Obama as just a "community organizer". Obama's campaign must go down as the greatest community organization project in US history. That's what the ground game IS in politics.

Classy speech from McCain. Whatever the trash from his constituency and the blogosphere (and his running mate), he cannot be said to have run a negative campaign.

Incidentally, Obama up early by about 7% in Montana? Cool!; November 4, 2008 11:30 PM
ChrisG said...: Got give it to McCain for that speech. Got tears in my damn eyes for a second time.; November 4, 2008 11:30 PM
PorridgeGun said...: Hehehehe...Did you see McCain's cold as ice shaking of the hand with Mooseburger and her hubby? McCain couldn't bare to look at them, particularly Todd Palin, who he didn't even look at.; November 4, 2008 11:38 PM
aaronorear said...: Looking at your two maps - results on top, projections beneath.

You guys are good. Scary good.; November 4, 2008 11:39 PM
Bozo said...: My prediction: Obama 341, McCain 197. Obama teaches GW Bush what a mandate really looks like, and takes all of the key states Nate has been discussing (VA, PA, OH, CO, NV), plus FL and ND. He loses NC, IN and MO, plus all the usual red-state suspects. I figure this scenario +/- 5 EV (could lose FL and take NC and MO, and ND isn't essential to the scenario) is about a 50% chance.

Senate: Franken gets carried on Obama's coattails to make it Democrats 57, Republicans 41, Independents 2. No surprises in GA, KY, or MS (or AK for that matter).

Wow, my prediction is looking pretty good. IN, NC and MO still too close to call, but trending to McCain. Obama may get MT instead of ND, and Obama still has chances in the remaining three.; November 4, 2008 11:40 PM
Andre said...: Here is a Brazilian, crying as a baby, happy to witness this historic moment for Humanity! It's amazing to be here and witness America restoring it´s image in the global stage. Yay! Go Obama! Let´s change the World! 538, Nate, guys, I´ve been reading you (post, comments) at least 3 times a day! OMG! Andre; November 4, 2008 11:44 PM
Dave Brodbeck said...: though the big story, what was Real Joe's surprise? Did I miss it?; November 4, 2008 11:48 PM
hatshepsutely said...: What was Real Joe's surprise???; November 4, 2008 11:54 PM
GREATnewsinOH said...: I got in my car after riding with the ballots to the Board of Elections here in Cleveland OH to hear Mc's concession speech.

What an amazing day and amazing time!

I have plenty of stories from the polls that I will share in the days to come but I needed to at least check in here with my friends of the last months. And, as per the brilliant Brit suggestion, my name here has been changed accordingly!!!; November 4, 2008 11:57 PM
Bill Hicks said...: AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAHAAAAAA!! He's dead, it's dead, the Republican beast is fucking deaaaaaaaaad!! Eight years of that rampaging Republican fucking elephant beast finally brought to its knees! Yes, you're dead, you fucker, you fuck, you fuck, you're DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!!; November 5, 2008 12:11 AM
Mule-Skinner said...: Just wish Dr King could have witnessed this moment.
CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA, and PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA.
Best political moment since the apology to the Stolen Generation. -ms
PS: OH Mule-Rider where are you?
PPS: "SUPRISE!" (Ok not as good as Real Joe's, but it's best I could do. ☺); November 5, 2008 12:20 AM
alphaxanon said...: Both Obama and McCain's speeches were class. I'm proud of both candidates for putting such heartfelt words into their speeches tonight.

Come on America let's work to get past this crisis together!

YES WE CAN!!!; November 5, 2008 12:32 AM
zorg79 said...: Thank you Americans, really, thanks.; November 5, 2008 12:44 AM
Marjorie said...: this is just for fun now.... but to get a 375+ev landslide, obama would need missouri. i'm crossing my fingers, but not much else. anyway, the main thing is HE WON!!!!!!!! HE WON!!! YES!!!; November 5, 2008 12:45 AM
twodeadpoets said...: The trolls must have imploded... it's so civil here

wv gleake... no comment...; November 5, 2008 12:52 AM
Mik in Montague said...: WOOOHOOOO!!!!!

can't believe the nightmare is over.

Mik in Montague; November 5, 2008 12:06 PM
Ultimate Voyageur said...: Thank you very much, as a 1st time voter you really eased this hard and long presidential campaign. Truly a worldwide celebration.; November 5, 2008 3:07 PM
admsitio said...: Yes the change has come to our world. After worst presidente ever, now is time for a big change with obama-look at this OBAMA WE DID IT T SHIRTS; November 10, 2008 10:17 PM
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Mr. November said...: This post has been removed by the author.; November 4, 2008 11:19 PM

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11.04.2008

Barack Obama President-Elect of the United States

262 comments