Barack Obama has secured another four years as commander-in-chief of America, defeating his challenger Mitt Romney in what has been the most closely fought presidential election in US history.
Speaking at a rally in Chicago not long after it was confirmed that he had secured all of the votes in the electoral college needed for a second term, president Obama promised Americans that “the best is yet to come”.
In a rousing 25-minute speech, he thanked everyone who had voted for him, before paying tribute to his contender, governor Romney, whom he added he would be looking to work with in taking America forward.
“I believe we can build on the progress we’ve made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class,” he said to a rapturous audience.
“I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you’re willing to work hard, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love.”
Professionals from all over the world may well be considering moving to the US on the back of this impassioned speech, but have to be cautious about how dramatic change will be this time around.
America still has a lot to do to recover from one of the worst economic crises the world has ever experienced, as well as winning back support from those who voted for Mr Romney.
Though the incumbent president confidently secured electoral votes (he secured 303, Mr Romney 206), the popular vote was extremely close (49.8 per cent backing Obama, 48.6 per cent in favour of his rival).
“If we’re lucky, we will find that we elected a different Obama from the one who won four years ago,” commented Doyle McManus of the Los Angeles Times. “Not just a greyer Obama, but a wiser one too.”