Obama's new dawn

PRESIDENT-ELECT Barack Obama will move quickly to put his stamp on a new administration, announcing over the next few days key White House posts as well as leading cabinet positions after he declared "a new dawn of American leadership".

The 47-year-old freshman senator from Illinois won a landslide victory yesterday to become the first black president of the US, but faces a daunting series of national security and economic challenges, with nearly half the country still sceptical about his rise to the most powerful position on the planet.

Senator Obama's blueprint for easing the transition to the White House in 75 days is expected to include asking the Bush administration's Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, to stay on for at least the first 12 months.

And in keeping with his appeals for bipartisanship, the president-elect is also considering asking the Republican grandee of foreign relations, Richard Lugar, and Nebraska moderate Republican Chuck Hagel to serve in his cabinet. Aides say Senator Lugar has been considered for secretary of state, though former presidential candidate John Kerry is also high on the list.

In a dramatic moment in the country's history yesterday, which granted full rights to blacks only 40 years ago, the US emphatically ruled a line under the contentious years of the presidency of George W. Bush.

Senator Obama won 52 per cent of the popular vote against his Republican opponent John McCain's 47 per cent. In terms of electoral college votes, the victory was more decisive, with Senator Obama taking 349 against Senator McCain's 163.

In choosing Senator Obama, the first post-boomer president, the US has also passed the baton to a new generation of leadership.

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are 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 answer," Senator Obama said before more than 100,000 people in Chicago's Grant Park.

"It's been a long time coming. But tonight, because of what we did on this date, in this election, change has come to America.

"And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world -- our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand."

Senator Obama acknowledged his challenges as president were immense, as the economy dives and the war against al-Qa'ida and its offshoots drags on. But he set a bipartisan tone as he goes about trying to unite a divided country after a hard fought contest.

Reaching out to McCain supporters he said: "I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too."

In Phoenix, Arizona, the vanquished war hero John McCain, 72, voice thick with emotion, urged his supporters, in a gracious concession speech, to get behind the new president. "We have had and argued our differences," he said of his rival, "and he has prevailed."

Raising his hands to quell some of the boos at the mention of Senator Obama's name, Senator McCain said it was a "historic election, and I recognise the special significance it has for African-Americans and the special pride that must be theirs tonight".

Mr Bush called Senator Obama to congratulate him on the victory.

"You are about to go on one of the great journeys of life. Congratulations and go enjoy yourself," Mr Bush told him.

Senator Obama's victory was also significant for the Democratic sweep of the US Congress it helped usher in. The down-ballot races for house and Senate seats went overwhelmingly to Democrats, establishing a solid legislative mandate for a new Obama administration.

Democrats appeared to have picked up at least five seats in the 100-member Senate to take their majority to 56, with four seats still too close to call. Big swings were also recorded in the House of Representatives.

Now, either in their own right or with the help of moderate Republicans, Democrats in Congress will be able to overcome the 60-seat filibuster threshold in the US Senate that in recent years has helped gridlock Washington.

The election unfolded as many had predicted -- Senator Obama flipping key Republican states from 2004 to his column, winning the blue-collar battleground of Ohio and pulling off razor-thin victories in other red states of Florida, Virginia and Iowa.

Source: theaustralian.news.com.au