He walked into the cavernous hall at McCormick Place, Chicago filled with deafening cheers. His supporters had been waiting for him to make his acceptance speech. He climbed the podium at 12:35 a.m. eastern time as Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” played out of the speakers.
Some of the supporters cried openly when he was declared the winner. Actress Vivica Fox was one of those who broke down in tears. Friends held one another and hugged. Some danced like it was going out of sync. It mattered not to them that the mood at the Mitt Romney camp was gloomy.
As Obama wrapped up victories in several key states, the song “How Do You Like Me Now?” blared out from the McCormick Centre loudspeaker. Then the crowd began to dance and sway to the beats “Twist and Shout.” The crowd swayed, holding flags aloft and watching themselves as television networks showed their images on giant screens.
Decked out in a black suit and blue tie, the president, who waited for the noise to subside, hugged his wife and daughters. He stepped onto the podium and smiled.
Before he made his way to the podium, President Barack Obama had sent e-mail to his supporters telling them they made it happen and that he was on his way to address them. He said: “I’m about to go speak to the crowd here in Chicago, but I wanted to thank you first.
“I want you to know that this wasn’t fate, and it wasn’t an accident. You made this happen.
“You organised yourselves block by block. You took ownership of this campaign five and 10 dollars at a time. And when it wasn’t easy, you pressed forward.
“I will spend the rest of my presidency honouring your support, and doing what I can to finish what we started. But I want you to take real pride, as I do, in how we got the chance in the first place. Today is the clearest proof yet that, against the odds, ordinary Americans can overcome powerful interests. There’s a lot more work to do. But for right now: Thank you.”
His wife Mitchelle and children Sasha and Malia left the stage for him to make his last acceptance speech as America’s president-elect.
As they were leaving the supporters, waving America’s flag, cheered. The moment of glory was captured live on television, radio and the internet. Reporters from media organisations from over 30 countries of the world, including Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico and India, captured the moment for posterity. Reporters jumped on tables to get a better look at it all.
The parking area of the venue bore credence to the fact that history was being made. Outside broadcasting vans and satellites of major news organs, such as CNN, BBC, Fox and so on littered the ground.
For the close to 30 minutes that he spoke, he cut the image of a man who knew his opponent almost humbled him and he promised not to let down those who stood for him and those who stood for his opponents. After all, he is not president of Democrats, but America, which, he said, is the greatest country in the world.
The first thing he said after ‘thank you, thank you’ was: “It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people.”
He continued after their applause abated: “Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come.”
He thanked every American who participated in this election, either by pounding the pavement or picking up the phone when canvassers called or held an Obama sign or a Romney sign. He said he spoke with Romney and congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign.
He said the battle was not personal. “We may have battled fiercely,” he said,” but it’s only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future. From George to Lenore to their son Mitt, the Romney family has chosen to give back to America through public service and that is the legacy that we honour and applaud tonight.”
He promised to seek out Romney, who conceded defeat publicly shortly after calling him on phone before midnight. “In the weeks ahead, I also look forward to sitting down with Governor Romney to talk about where we can work together to move this country forward,” he said.
His words for his deputy, Joe Biden, were greeted with applause. “I want to thank my friend and partner of the last four years, America’s happy warrior, the best vice president anybody could ever hope for, Joe Biden,” he said.
Obama, at this point, said: “And I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the woman who agreed to marry me 20 years ago.” The audience responded with claps and waving of flags.
He continued: “Let me say this publicly: Michelle, I have never loved you more. I have never been prouder to watch the rest of America fall in love with you, too, as our nation’s first lady.”
He was applauded. Then, it was time for the children. He said of them: “Sasha and Malia, before our very eyes you’re growing up to become two strong, smart beautiful young women, just like your mom.”
Again, the audience clapped. He said, laughing: “And I’m so proud of you guys. But I will say that for now one dog’s probably enough.”
He continued: “To the best campaign team and volunteers in the history of politics…”
He was interrupted by applause. Then he completed the statement: “The best. The best ever. Some of you were new this time around, and some of you have been at my side since the very beginning.”
After the speech, he stood on the podium, waved at the audience and Mitchelle and the kids walked back to the stage. They hugged like one happy family. Then, Biden and his wife joined. They exchanged hugs. And from the blues came fireworks. Other dignitaries joined them on the podium waving and clapping as the fireworks beautified the arena.
It all came to an end when they all left the stage. The audience, many of them who had waited for no less than six hours, dispersed too, leaving the managers to clean their ‘mess’ and happy that their man is going to be at the Capitol Hill for the next four years. And the curtain was closed on a moment of history.
Time was 1.30am, eastern time.
