Four more years
President Barack Obama has won a second term in the White House, overcoming doubts among voters about his handling of the U.S. economy to score a clear victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
After a long, bitter and expensive campaign, the 51-year-old Obama began trying to bring Americans together in a victory speech before thousands of cheering supporters in Chicago.
"You voted for action, not politics as usual," Obama said, calling for compromise and pledging to work with leaders of both parties to reduce the deficit, to reform the tax code and immigration laws, and to cut dependence on foreign oil.
Accused by Romney throughout the campaign of taking a partisan tone, Obama vowed to reach out to Republicans in his new, four-year term.
Obama told his crowd he hoped to sit down with Romney in the weeks ahead and examine ways to meet the challenges ahead.
Obama scored impressive victories across the country, so much so that the big build-up over Ohio, Virginia and Florida fizzled.
Obama reached the 270 electoral votes needed for election even without those three states, rolling up wins in Democratic strongholds and carrying Nevada, Iowa and Colorado.
In the end, he also won Ohio and Virginia and was ahead in Florida, where votes were still being counted.
Obama applauds as confetti falls after he addressed supporters during his election night victory rally.
Supporters listen to Obama's acceptance speech at his election night rally.
Obama faces the difficult task of tackling $1 trillion annual deficits, reducing a $16 trillion national debt and overhauling expensive social programs.
The nationwide popular vote remained extremely close with Obama taking about 50 percent to 49 percent for Romney after a campaign in which the candidates and their party allies spent a combined $2 billion.
But Obama comfortably won the electoral votes needed in the state-by-state system used to choose U.S. presidents.
Vice President Joe Biden roars as he celebrates Obama's election win.
U.S. President Barack Obama and the first family are cheered by supporters at his election night victory rally.
First lady Michelle Obama (left) embraces Dr. Jill Biden.
Keesha Patterson of Ft. Washington, Maryland (left) proposes marriage to her girlfriend Rowan Ha (right) during the election night victory rally.
A child sleeps during the election night rally.
Supporters of Obama cheer the news of the president's re-election
Marta Nunez from Honduras wears a Barack Obama dress as she watches TV screens in Times Square.
A view of the skyline of Middle Manhattan shows the Empire State Building lit in blue and red to display the presidential race's electoral votes. The blue lights represent votes for Obama, the red votes for Romney.
Romney came back from a series of campaign stumbles to make it a close race, in conceding he said: "This is a time of great challenge for our nation, I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation."
A man leaves Times Square after watching a live broadcast of U.S. President Barack Obama's acceptance speech.
