Obama wins US Election

President Barack Obama has won a second term in the White House with a clear victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

Overcoming deep doubts among voters about his handling of the U.S. economy, Obama told thousands of supporters in Chicago who cheered his every word that “we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back and that for America, the best is yet to come.”

He vowed to listen to both sides of the political divide in the weeks ahead and said he would return to the White House more determined than ever to confront America’s challenges.

“Whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you. And you have made me a better president,” said Obama.

Broadcast networks called the 2012 election for Obama as he swept the map with wins in the swings states of Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Virginia while Florida still hung in the balance.

Obama said he had “listened and learned’ to the American people and it had “made him a better president and I will return to the White House more determined and inspired than ever.”

He finished with rapturous applause from his supporters, saying: “America, 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.

“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.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you’re willing to try.”

“We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.”

“Thank you, America. God bless you. God bless these United States.”