在长达一年多的2008美国总统大选过程中，渴望，期待，焦虑，甚至恐惧，最终为欢
喜，庆贺，还有眼泪所取代，来之不易的胜利，平等与民主的胜利。


Supporters of Senator Barack Obama in Chicago yelled when they heard that
he had won the state of Pennsylvania. Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times

Brenda LaMotte cried when Mr. Obama was projected to win at a restaurant
in the Leimert Park Village neighborhood of Los Angeles. Ms. LaMotte, who
is retired from the Federal Marshall's office, said, "I never thought I
would live to see the day. I grew up in Louisiana, and I was one of the
first 17 black students at my high school."
Photo: Monica Almeida/The New York Times

John Long, 34, left, and his wife, Mitzi Vazquez-Long, 32, right, watched
early results at an election party with friends and family in the basement
of their Shaker Heights, Ohio, home. They were all supporters of Mr. Obama.
Photo: David Ahntholz for The New York Times

Mr. Obama's win was announced in Times Square, New York City.
Photo: Hiroko Masuike for The New York Times

Zim Ugochukwu cried for joy in Greensboro, N.C., as NBC called the election
in favor of Mr. Obama. Photo: Jeremy M. Lange for The New York Times

Thousands of people celebrated on 125th Street in Harlem, stopping traffic
as they chanted in front of the Apollo Theater. Photo: James Estrin/New
York Times

Latrice Barnes, right, sat with her daughter Jasmine Redd, 5, at the First
Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem after Mr. Obama's victory was announced.Photo:
David Goldman for The New York Times

Supporters cheered and cried as CNN announced Mr. Obama as the projected
winner at a rally in Grant Park in Chicago.Photo: Damon Winter/The New York
Times

A woman yelled "Thank you, God" as tens of thousands of people gathered
in Grant Park to celebrate Senator Barack Obama's election on Tuesday. Photo:
Doug Mills/The New York Times

 "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place
where all things are possible," Mr. Obama told the crowd, "tonight is your
answer." Photo: Anthony Jacobs/Getty Images

The election amounted to an embrace of Mr. Obama's call for a change in
the direction and the tone of the country. Photo: Damon Winter/The New York
Times

Mr. Obama and his wife, Michelle, with Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., the
vice-president-elect, and his wife, Jill. Photo: Damon Winter/The New York
Times

"The road ahead will be long, our climb will be steep," said Mr. Obama,
his audience hushed and attentive, with some, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson,
 wiping tears from their eyes. "We may not get there in one year or even
one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight
that we will get there." Photo: Damon Winter/The New York Times

Photo: Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

 Over the course of two years, the 2008 presidential campaign commanded
an extraordinary amount of attention from the American public. Photo: Justin
Sullivan/Getty Images

Mr. Obama, with Mr. Biden, offered a hand to voters who had not supported
him in this election. "To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn,"
he said, "I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your
help, and I will be your president, too."
Photo: Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times

 Initial signs were that Mr. Obama benefited from a huge turnout of voters,
particularly among blacks. That group made up 13 percent of the electorate,
according to surveys, compared with 11 percent in 2006. Photo: Damon Winter/The
New York Times

Campaign workers cleaning bulletproof glass on the stage where Mr. Obama
would speak. Doug Mills/The New York Times