Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008

    by Wang Wei

    CHICAGO, United States, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) --Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Grant Park of Chicago on Tuesday night to celebrate Democratic candidate Barack Obama's overwhelming victoryin presidential elections.

    The joy spread to nearby streets from the park as many ardent supporters marked the historical moment by dancing and blowing their car horns.

About 150,000 supporters of U.S. Democratic Party candidate Barack Obama gather at Grant Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois of the United States, Nov. 5, 2008, to celebrate Obama's victory in the U.S. presidential election.(Xinhua Photo/Zeng Hu) Photo Gallery>>>

    A street market was set up to sell souvenirs imprinted with Obama's image and his symbolic words "change we believe in." Many people were attracted by windows of a store which were decorated by magazine covers with Obama's pictures on them.

    Inside the park, amid thunderous cheering, applause and music, Obama, his wife Michelle and their two daughters appeared on stage later Tuesday night against the backdrop of Democratic Party's symbolic color of blue, pushing the atmosphere at the scene to climax.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama waves to supporters at the election night rally in Chicago, the United States, on Nov. 4, 2008, after he won the presidential election.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Obama delivered a speech to the 125,000 overjoyed audience packed at the Grant Park. "Changes have come to America," he said. "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," Obama said.

    However, he warned that the road ahead would be long and hard with many challenges waiting to be tackled. "For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime," he said. "Two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century."

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama(1st L) accompanied by his wife Michelle(2nd L), his election partner Joe Biden(1st R) and wife acknowledges the supporters at the election night rally in Chicago, the United States, on Nov. 4, 2008, after he won the presidential election.(Xinhua Photo/Zhang Yan) Photo Gallery>>>

    "We may not get there (solve the problems) in one year or even one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there," Obama said.

    People smiled, nodded, cheered, waved flags, even wept while listening to Obama's remarks.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama waves to supporters at the election night rally in Chicago, the United States, on Nov. 4, 2008, after he won the presidential election.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "It's one of the best moments in the history of America that we finally come into an agreement to elect a president that everybody truly likes," said Joures Dash, a 22-year-old supporter of Obama at the rally.

    John Diyas, an 83-year-old African American, said that he had never thought he could see the day come that an African American is elected president of the United States.

Supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama stand ready for the election night in the Grant Park in Chicago, the United States, November 4, 2008.(Xinhua Photo/Zhang Yan) Photo Gallery>>>

    For Allen Webb, however, the election night went without surprise. "I saw it coming," he said, "It is time for America to have a leader who can bring unity to the country and avoid ideological blunders."

    The rally ran smoothly despite earlier concerns about massive crowd and foiled plots to assassinate Obama, partly due to the tight security check and strong presence of local police.

    Chicago, where Obama started his community work and then political career, returned to peace after midnight as its homeboy is beginning a new adventure.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama acknowledges the supporters at the election night rally in Chicago, the United States, on Nov. 4, 2008, after he won the presidential election.(Xinhua Photo/Zhang Yan) Photo Gallery>>>