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Barack Obama, a 47-year-old first-term senator from Illinois, made history last night by winning the election as the first African-American president of the United States.

“To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn — I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too,” said Obama, adressing supporters of the Republican McCain/Pallin ticket.

In his concession speech, Senator John McCain Senator extended his support to President-Elect Obama, stating, “I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering 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.”