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Beaten McCain appeals for unity as party faithful boo the victor
Edward Helmore in Scottsdale, Arizona5 Nov 2008
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- Click here for the full transcript of Obama's speech in Chicago
- Click here to watch video of Obama's speech
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- Dominic Sandbrook: How Hiram and Blanche did their bit for the President
- Poll: Can Obama make a real difference in the US?
- What the American papers are saying
- Diary: Maybe time to put Dimbleby out to grass
JOHN McCain offered a gracious concession as he admitted his White House dream was finally over today - but had to stop his supporters booing Barack Obama's name.
The 72-year-old Republican candidate offered no trace of bitterness as he addressed thousands of backers in his home town after making a call to Mr Obama handing him victory.
But the depths of difficulty his party faces were underlined by the reaction of a crowd hostile to his message of uniting behind the president. Mr McCain, with his wife Cindy, running mate Sarah Palin and her husband Todd, took the stage to admit defeat soon after the polls closed in California.
"We fought as hard as we could, and though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours," Mr McCain said. "The road was a difficult one from the outset. Every campaign makes mistakes but I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been."
Mr McCain took pains to recognise Mr Obama's victory and its astonishing symbolism of a black president just 40 years after the end of the civil rights movement.
He said: "This is an historic election, and I recognise the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight." He insisted America today was "a world away from the cruel and spiteful bigotry" of a century ago.
"There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States," he said.
Offering his condolences to Mr Obama for the death on Sunday of his grandmother, Mr McCain said he regretted that she had not lived to see her grandson achieve such "a great thing for himself and his country".
He called for unity despite the divisions the election had raised, adding: "Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face."
Stopping several times to urge the audience not to boo Obama's name, he said: "I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here. Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history."
Not all the senator's supporters were willing to accept their candidate's loss. Throughout the crowd, the wails of women could be heard; the victory party soon dissipating in defeat into the night. "This is horrible," offered one distressed woman. "I'm worried for my country. Watch your wallets."
A companion added: "Watch your guns, too."
At the Biltmore Hotel, the party faithful - who had been intending to eat, drink and party through the night - largely went home early in disappointment.
As the bad news unfolded, the feed giving a running update of results was cut.
Grassroots Republican feeling was summed up by 53-year-old Donna Petello, who was wearing a hot pink button that said "Hot Chicks Vote Republican".
She said: "America made a big mistake and they'll surely see that soon. But we can't do anything about it."
Reader views (12)
It has been amazing to see the reaction and commentary of the world. Sometimes we live in a bubble and don't realize others are watching. As an African-American woman I can only say that it is a wonderful day for not only African Americans, but all of those who believe in hope, promise, and positive change. This is afterall the country that has always told us to pick ourselves up from our bootstraps, get an education, and you can become whoever you want to be. President Elect Barack Obama is realizing the dream and we need everyone's continued help to achieve it.
- Lori, Milwaukee, WI, USA, 06/11/2008 02:53
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John McCain has always been by far the best advertisement for his unfortunately soiled party. It says something for a country's confidence that it feels it can find a better leader than him. The tragedy is that he should now be retiring from the presidency, instead of the scoundrel Bush: the world would be a much safer place if this had been the case.
The worrying thing about Obama, who is so impressive on the surface, is that he seems to have risen without trace: no great issue or campaign behind him, no legislation, nothing to say who he really is, or indicate how he would respond to the unexpected.
- Mdj, Leyton, e10 london, 05/11/2008 23:36
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John Mcain is a very decent,ethical,honest man and even in defeat he maintained his dignity...it is his time now to let America find its own way.... I wish he and his Family all the best (and what a wonderful support they have been to him) you are a well liked man and should rest assured that you will never lose the respect of so many people throughout Europe and the US.
Never give up fighting for what you think is right.
L. Taylor
Dallas TX
- Elizabeth Taylor, dallas tx, 05/11/2008 20:55
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I just wanted to see how the world papers were reporting Sen. Obama's election as the 44th president of the United States. While our union is not perfect, and our people have been manipulated to believe down-right stupid stereotypes still, the world saw the melting pot that is America elect our first African American president. Over the last year, I have gotten to know a delightful Austrian lady who does not hide her love for my country. Yet, she is very eager to share her belief that she believes she knows better than we Americans. So I ask you, Europe: when are you going to break the racial divides with your own leaders? Counting the days until Jan. 20, 2009!
- Charla, Charlotte, NC, 05/11/2008 20:31
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Let the welfare state begin
- John Zimmerer, Logansport USA, 05/11/2008 20:19
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Finally we have a chance to clean house and get a new start. WE have suffered dearly for 8 long years, now we have hope. The right wing has left the building...... Time to celebrate!
- Joel, Boise, Idaho, USA, 05/11/2008 17:44
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I wanted to see what other countries are saying about this election and the results and I must say that I'm impressed with the objectivity of this particular publication. I am a former newspaper reporter and I have been disappointed in how the U.S. media has painted both candidates. I had wanted John McCain to win because he is a great American; Victorious, even in defeat, as he truly is a remarkable gentleman and patriot. I am satisfied with Obama winning the election as it means we soon will be finished with George W. Bush who has made a joke of our country. I wouldn't care if Mickey Mouse were elected president at this point. I'm just thrilled that in a few short weeks, Bush will be sent packing back to Texas.
- Beth, Troy, Illinois, USA, 05/11/2008 16:24
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McCain was a totally inadequate candidate. If he really wanted to keep a Democrat out of the White House he should been wise enough to have known he could never do it. He was the wrong candidate running a very poor campaign. Anybody that believes in being bi-partisan politically is DOA.
- Frank, England., 05/11/2008 16:20
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Four words that brought the Republicans to their knees that ripped the claw of power right out of their greedy Republican grasp…
George Bush
Sarah Palin
All that’s left now for the once greedy Republicans is the crying!
DEMOCRATS RULE
- George Bush, Naples, Florida-Collier County, USA, 05/11/2008 16:12
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JANUARY 20, 2009 - The end of an error.
- This Parrottisdead, San Diego, USA, 05/11/2008 16:01
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McCain gave a classy and gracious speech last night. I sure hope his supporters listened to it.
- Ryssee, Boston, MA, USA, 05/11/2008 15:19
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You can't take the nastiness out of some Republicans. But McCain was a decent and worthy opponent. The better man and Party won.
- Dhanraj, Basildon Essex, 05/11/2008 13:23
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