Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune
The first-term Democratic senator from Illinois defeats Republican John McCain.
Reporting from Phoenix and Los Angeles — Barack Obama became the first African American to capture the presidency of the United States tonight when his projected wins in Virginia, Florida and California clinched the election.
According to Associated Press projections, the Democratic senator from Illinois had 324 electoral votes; he needed 270 to capture the prize he had sought for almost two years of campaigning. Delaware Sen. Joe Biden will become the next vice president.
The victory appeared inevitable earlier in the evening when Obama captured Ohio and Pennsylvania, taking two key states that Republican John McCain had hoped to win. Ohio was a Republican state that Obama flipped into the Democratic column; Pennsylvania, a longtime Democratic state, had been fiercely contested by the Republicans.
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Tuesday, November 4, 2008 | 11:25 p.m. ET.
Democratic candidate becomes first African American to win the presidency.
| 11:10 p.m. ET
Victory Redraws Political Map
The Fix | Obama has made good on his promise to expand the election map — running surprisingly strongly in traditionally red states.
Chris Cillizza | 11:10 p.m. ET
Race for Congress | Among victories for Democrats is Kay Hagan beating Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina.
William Branigin | 10:48 p.m. ET
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