PEOPLE AND PLACES: ELECTION DAY

ELECTION DAY IN PICTURES:

President tells supporters: 'While our road has been hard, we have picked ourselves up and fought our way back'
He fought off mighty challenge from Republican Mitt Romney after leading US through difficult economic times
Barack Obama played basketball in Chicago on Tuesday with friends and aides - a tradition since 2008 primaries

These glorious pictures show how America has declared that President Barack Obama will spend another four years in the White House.

This photograph shows the moment that President Obama learned he had won re-election against his Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Taking the call perched on a chair at the Fairmont Millennium Park Hotel in Chicago, the president was apparently wished well by his defeated opponent. The historic image was captured by the Obama administration's photographer Pete Souza and was posted onto the official White House Flickr account for all to see.

President Barack Obama talks on the phone with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney in the Presidential Suite at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 6, 2012. Body language experts have had a field day with the signs that the just-triumphant president is giving off to the camera.They claim that by perching on the back of the chair, the president is implicitly suggesting that he does not expect the telephone call to be a lengthy one.

US President Barack Obama addresses a crowd of supporters on stage on election night November 6, 2012 in Chicago - while Mitt Romney prepares to give his concession speech in Massachusetts

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama embrace Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden moments after the television networks called the election in their favor

Interpreting Obama's standing rather than sitting position, the experts have noted the two candidates frosty relationship and that the president is not sitting down to talk to his rival.

More obviously the president's fingers are pressed to one of his ears, which may suggest that the room in the hotel is very noisy and that his re-election team have erupted in rapture.

Immediately after the telephone call, Mitt Romney began preparing his concession speech, having admitted beforehand that he did not have one ready expecting to win.

In his concession speech, Romney said that on the call with the president, he wished Obama well, along with his family and staff.

US President Barack Obama celebrates with his daughters Sasha (2nd L) and Malia (R) and US First Lady Michelle Obama in Chicago on November 7, 2012. 'This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation,' said Romney. During his acceptance speech, President Obama also referenced his crushed rival, saying he 'just spoke with Governor Romney and I congratulated him and Paul Ryan on a hard-fought campaign.' 'We may have battled fiercely, but it's only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future,' said Obama. During his widely praised concession speech the former Massachusetts governor lost the race after nearly 17 months of fighting, including a prolonged primary race against rivals like Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain and the eventual runner-up Rick Santorum.

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney stands on stage with his wife Ann after he delivered his concession speech during his election night rally in Boston, Massachusetts, November 7. The Republican said that he and his vice presidential pick 'left everything on the field.' 'At a time like this, we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the nation's work,' Romney said. He added: 'I believe in America. I believe in the people of America. And I ran for office because I'm concerned about America. This election is over, but our principles endure. I believe that the principles upon which this nation was founded are the only sure guide to a resurgent economy and to renewed greatness.

Republican presidential candidate, Mitt Romney greets supporters as he concedes the presidency during his campaign election night event at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on November 7. In his defeat, Romney maintained that the only way for the country to succeed is if elected officials give politics a rest. 'We look to Democrats and Republicans in government at all levels to put people before the politics,' Romney said. 'I believe in America. I believe in the people of America... I ran for office because I'm concerned about America. This election is over, but our principles endure.' Of Obama, Romney said: 'Ann and I will pray for him as he continues to lead this nation.'

The President, who has led the country through its most difficult economic times since the Great Depression in the 1930s, blunted a mighty challenge by Republican Mitt Romney as the Americans voted for a leader they knew over a wealthy businessman they did not.

President Obama told a rally of supporters that the election ‘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’. He had earlier taken time out to play basketball with aides and friends.

I'm back: US President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle and daughters Sasha (left) and Malia (right) wave to supporters on election night in Chicago, Illinois

Confetti time: US President Barack Obama supporters celebrate victory in Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday morning

U.S. President Barack Obama celebrates after winning the U.S. presidential election in Chicago

President Barack Obama, accompanied by first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha arrive at the election night party in Chicago

US First Lady Michelle Obama hugs US President Barack Obama as they celebrate on election night

U.S. President Barack Obama gives his election night victory rally speech in Chicago last night

Defeated: Mitt Romney stands on stage with his wife Ann during his election night rally in Boston

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney delivers his concession speech during his election night rally in Boston

Beautiful scene: Confetti obscures the stage as US President Barack Obama celebrates after winning the US presidential election in Chicago, Illinois, on Wednesday

All together: US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle celebrate onstage with Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden at McCormick Place in Chicago

Happy man: US President Barack Obama celebrates on stage as confetti falls after his victory speech during his election rally in Chicago on Tuesday night

Standing tall: US President Barack Obama reacts to supporters at the event at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, on Tuesday

Packed crowd: US President Barack Obama supporters cheer and wave flags during his election night victory rally in Chicago on Wednesday morning

Emotional moment: A supporter cries as Barack Obama speaks during an election night party on Wednesday in Chicago after the President defeated Mitt Romney

Here we go: Obama supporters cheer as they see poll numbers broadcast on cable news at McCormick Place ahead of election night coverage in Chicago

Kisses all round: US President Barack Obama supporters cheer during his victory election night rally in Chicago

Jumping up: Supporters of President Barack Obama - Shauna Harry, left, and Alana Hearn - celebrate by leaping in the air at New York State Democratic Headquarters

Tears: A supporter of US President Barack Obama reacts while listening to his speech at the event at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois

Group hug: Supporters watch a broadcast of President Obama's victory speech following Election Day, early Wednesday at the State of Illinois Building in Chicago

Yes: Jes Mostek and Ben Church were ecstatic as they watched Obama give his acceptance speech on TV at the St. Paul RiverCentre in St. Paul, Minnesota

Team effort: Workers celebrate after TV networks announce President Barack Obama won re-election in Times Square, Manhattan, New York

Wave your flag: Supporters cheer at the end of President Barack Obama remarks during an election night party on Wednesday in Chicago

Impressive creation: Cyclists look at a sand sculpture of President Obama by sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik at Puri beach, east of Bhubaneswar, India, on Wednesday

Proud: Indonesian elementary students at Menteng 01 elementary school, where President Barack Obama studied, watch TV coverage in Jakarta

It's yours: US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives on stage to concede the election to President Barack Obama in Boston

Disappointment: Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney embraces his wife Ann as his family look on during his election night rally in Boston

Defeat: Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's supporters react after Mr Romney was projected to lose during his election night rally in Boston

Not their night: Supporters watch voting returns at the election night rally for U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in Boston, Massachusetts

Stunned: Spectators react to the election results displayed on large televisions during Mitt Romney's campaign election night event in Boston

Thanks for your support: Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney arrives to deliver his concession speech during his election night rally in Boston

It's official: The USA Today front-page for Wednesday is seen (left), while this mocked-up poster (right) was doing the rounds on Twitter after Mr Romney's election defeat

Front-pages: The New York Times (left) and the Detroit News (right) declare victory for President Obama in early editions of Wednesday's papers

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Confident? Mitt Romney takes the last flight of his presidential campaign on the way to his headquarters in Boston

Saying goodbye? Barack Obama could be facing the end of his time as President if the night goes badly for him

Heading home: Romney leaves his final campaign event, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Last-minutes nerves: Romney jets off on his campaign plane alongside his aide Garrett Jackson

Contrast: Obama spent his last day of campaigning playing basketball with friends and campaign staff

Ready: Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan gesture to supporters and campaign workers in Richmond Heights, Ohio on Tuesday afternoon

Last efforts: Romney and Ryan grip workers' hands as they make an unscheduled stop at a Wendy's restaurant in Richmond Heights, Ohio

Not your usual cuisine? Romney and Ryan look at the menu while ordering at the Wendy's restaurant

Staying positive: President Barack Obama calls volunteers in Wisconsin as he visits a campaign office in Chicago, Illinois, on election day

Hopeful: President Barack Obama hugs a volunteer during a visit to a campaign office in Chicago as people across the country cast their votes

Taking part: Voters queue up at Washington Mill Elementary School in Alexandria, Virginia

Ready: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney prepares to cast his ballot at Beech Street Center in Belmont, Massachusetts

Stepping up: Mitt Romney, with his wife Ann at his side, casts his ballot for the U.S. presidential election in Belmont, Massachusetts on Tuesday

Job done: Romney and his wife Ann emerge from the Beech Street Center after casting their ballots on Tuesday morning

All smiles: President Obama speaks to the media and reveals he is 'confident' that he has enough votes to win the election

Thankful: The president hugs a volunteer during his visit to a campaign field office in Chicago, near to his South Side home

Support: Obama looks at a commemorative 'Obama shoe' that a campaign volunteer asked him to sign outside the office

Getting involved: Vice President Joe Biden, with his wife Jill Biden, right, and granddaughter Natalie, meets with patrons during a visit to the Landmark Restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio

At ease: Customers laugh and chat with Biden as he tours the Landmark Restaurant in Cleveland. He arrived in the city minutes after Romney

Making friends: Biden kisses a woman during his impromptu stop in Cleveland on his way to meet Obama in Chicago

In the spirit: Second-graders Brayden Gentzyel, left, as Obama and Harry Perkins, right, as Mitt Romney, from Valley View Elementary School in the York, Pennsylvania lead a parade of students around the school to encourage people to vote

Making a difference: Raena Lamont, 3, wears a Captain America costume at a polling center doubling as a donation site in the Staten Island borough of New York City

Determined: Voters crowd an apartment building hallway as they wait to enter a temporary polling station in the Coney Island section of New York after Superstorm Sandy closed voting stations

Keen: A light wet snow covers the roof and ground around the Jenkins Town Hall as early voters casts their ballots in Jenkins, Minnesota

A world away: Mike Wigart, 30, picks up his ballot at a polling station in the garage of the Los Angeles County lifeguard headquarters

Support: The Romneys share a kiss after voting in Belmont - and ahead of final campaign stops in Ohio and Pennsylvania

Family: Romney hugs his grandson Joe, as his wife Ann and son Tagg look on, after voting during the presidential election in Belmont

He's off! Voters swarm Mitt Romney's car as he drives away from Beech Street Center to catch his campaign plane

Last-ditch votes: Romney greets a family before boarding his campaign plane in Bedford, Massachusetts

Excited: Vice President Joe Biden holds hands with a poll worker as he emerges from the voting booth after casting his ballot in Greenville, Delaware on Tuesday

Heading out: Biden and his wife Jill wave as they depart New Castle, Delaware en route to Chicago to join President Obama

Talking it through: Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan votes accompanied by his children Charlie, Sam and Liza in Janesville, Wisconsin

Are you sure? Ryan casts his ballot with his wife Janna, son Charlie and daughter Liza on election day in Janesville

Reunited: Romney and Ryan walk off Romney's plane in Cleveland, Ohio. Ryan had arrived moments earlier on his own plane and met Romney on board

Standing strong: Romney and Ryan pose with members of Ryan's family at Cleveland Hopkins International airport

Creative: People cast their ballot at a polling station in a laundromat in Chicago, Illinois as Romney and Obama battle for the presidency

Fans: Three Obama supporters walk around the south side of Chicago, Illinois wearing Obama and Romney masks holding placards asking people to vote

Getting ready: Residents wait in line in the pre-dawn hours to vote at a historic property called the Hunter House at Nottoway Park in Vienna, Virginia

Early voters: Colby Klein, 2, seated on the floor, waits for her parents to cast their ballots in Los Angeles as her sister Astin Klein, 3

Do it right, Daddy! Scott Fera looks over his ballot with his son, Conan, 4, after his daughter Quinn, 2, have him a helping hand in Sacramento, California

Choices: More voters gather around booths in Toledo to make their choice for the president of the United States

Proud: Penny the Boston Terrier votes with her owners, Amy O'Neill (left) and girlfriend Michelle Nowakowski in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

US presidential election: How the 2012 race for the White House shone a rare spotlight onto the real America

Posted by Chris Leadbeater, Travel Writer, TravelMail

So that was D-day. Or perhaps E-day (as in 'E' for 'Election'), P-day (as in 'P' for 'President') – or even W-day (as in 'W' for 'When will the damn thing be over?')?

There are surely several reactions to Barack Obama’s re-election. One might well be a relieved sigh of 'ah, it really is all over. Can we talk about something else now?' But another will probably be surprise that, for all the talk of this being the closest presidential showdown in years, the final result has ended being a comfortable win for the incumbent.

And yet the nervousness and occasional fractiousness displayed by both Obama and Mitt Romney over recent days demonstrated that, while the actual outcome has proved to be conclusive, the race itself was perceived to be neck-and-neck. There they were, both men, zooming about the country, pressing the flesh in Wisconsin and Colorado, dashing off to distant corners and treating the key 'swing state' of Ohio like some sort of political drop-in centre where you can air your views next to a seemingly tireless crowd of supporters.

But if all those air miles spent and photo opportunities seized showed anything with real clarity, it was that America is a huge country, stuffed full of iconic landmarks – yet also full of places that you have never explored, and never really thought about exploring.

That might seem an obvious statement (mainly because it is). But nothing focuses a spotlight onto the less heralded corners of America than its presidential jamboree.

Have you ever, for example, heard as much about Columbus – the state capital of Ohio – as you have over the past few weeks, as both candidates scrambled for votes in what was deemed to be the crucial piece of the electoral jigsaw? Does Wisconsin ever really appear on international television screens beyond those giddy hours when the president is rolling through, trying to bolster support for his cause? (The answer to that second question is technically: 'Yes, the excellent movie Bridesmaids is set in the Wisconsin city of Milwaukee. But a fictional fable that sees the central characters becoming decidedly emotional, confrontational and downright tetchy as a big day approaches, and things appear to go wrong, is a different matter to a presidential run-off. Albeit only slightly').

The intriguing thought, from a travel perspective, is whether all these images of this colossal country – flashing across computer screens, tablets and mobile phones – will translate into tourist wanderlust. Did you look at the pictures of Ohio and think ‘ah yes, 2013 will be the year when I finally visit Columbus. I wonder what flight prices are like?’

I'm assuming that you (dear reader, etc etc) did not. Although perhaps you should have. Because the Ohio capital is a curiously alluring place, dotted with restaurants that take in rich culinary influences from across the globe, and home to a fabulous gallery – in the Columbus Museum of Art (www.columbusmuseum.org) – that showcases US art greats such as Norman Rockwell and Edward Hopper. Not so much 'swing state' as, simply, 'swinging’.

The argument, perhaps, is that while America is crammed with places that you know well – New York and its iconic skyline; Los Angeles and its celebrity glitz; San Francisco and the planet's most famous suspension bridge – the cut and thrust of the presidential race is one of the only periods when you catch a glimpse of the towns and cities that lie beyond the bucket lists and the dream itineraries. The places that – for all the blinding dazzle emanating from Hollywood; for every mega-tower that casts a long shadow across the Big Apple – make up the meat of this endlessly diverse and often complicated nation.

And with this peek behind the curtain comes, surely, a desire to see for yourself. You may be amazed at what you find – in Ohio or Oklahoma, South Dakota or Delaware.

As an example, my mentioning of Milwaukee earlier was not entirely random. A few weeks ago, I found myself in this under-reported city on the Wisconsin edge of Lake Michigan, not entirely sure as to what I was likely to encounter in a location of which I knew very little. What I discovered, with admitted surprise, was an enclave that has taken its industrial past and turned it to its advantage. There are hotels slotted into the chunky confines of former warehouses. There is a splendid museum dedicated to the roar and rumble of the Harley-Davidson (www.harley-davidson.com) – the legendary motorcycle firm having been founded in Milwaukee in 1903. There is another fine gallery, the Milwaukee Art Museum, whose skeletal structure is visibly the work of the maverick Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava (www.mam.org), to the extent that it comes equipped with white 'wings' that raise themselves up when the museum is open – a distinctly unusual sight in a city where the prevailing landscape is red brick, hard stone and winding railroad tracks.

My point? That you should probably, if America is your favourite destination, take a tour of Milwaukee at some juncture. But mainly that, even as the ticker-tape is swept away and a re-elected president heads back to his (Oval) office, the USA is a country that demands to be travelled in depth and detail – far beyond the shops of Fifth Avenue, the ferry to Alcatraz or the stars that are laid into the pavement on Hollywood Boulevard.

Big spender: Karl Rove's super PACs were responsible for spending $390m in the election

Still reeling from President Obama's re-election, the Republican party is now soul searching and rebuilding their structure.

Given the hundreds of millions of dollars that were spent by adviser Karl Rove, many are now wondering if he will be ousted from his role as proverbial party elder because of his expensive losses.

Rove, who is largely credited with the presidential victories of George W. Bush, now heads up a number of political action committees which spent about $300million on failed Republican candidates in this year's election.

Now Rove is on the defensive, being forced to explain himself to a bevy of billionaire donors who are upset that his group, American Crossroads, had the lowest return on their investment.

Not one of the candidates supported by the PAC won on Tuesday.

According to The American Prospect, the group's non-profit arm Crossroads GPS did slightly better but they still only had a 14-per cent return rate.

'The billionaire donors I hear are livid,' a Republican operative told The Huffington Post.

'There is some holy hell to pay. Karl Rove has a lot of explaining to do... I don’t know how you tell your donors that we spent $390 million and got nothing.'

Donors aren’t the only ones lambasting Rove. On Election Night, he made himself the subject of mockery after arguing live on Fox News that the network was wrong and that Romney had won Ohio even though they were ready to call it for Obama.

Arguing against facts: Even though Fox had called the race for the president, Rove argued they were wrong

Fox host Megyn Kelly chided him on air, questioning whether his calculations were 'math you do as a Republican to make yourself feel better'.

And a short while later, billionaire Donald Trump took to Twitter to criticize the political operative's business savvy.

'Congrats to @KarlRove on blowing $400 million this cycle. Every race @CrossroadsGPS ran ads in, the Republicans lost. What a waste of money,' he wrote to his 1,800,000 followers.

Rove quickly started doling out the blame the day after the election, writing an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal where he said that the headline writer at the New York Times who titled Romney's column 'Let Detroit Go bankrupt' and the hotel employee who taped the candidate's infamous '47 per cent' video as two of the villains.

Taking aim: Billionaire Donald Trump criticized Rove's spending

The problem for Rove, however, is that the trail of tainted millions all goes back to him.

'In any logical universe, (Rove) would never be hired to run or consult on a national campaign again and no one would give a dime to their ineffective Super PACs, such as American Crossroads,' Republican consultant Richard Viguerie told Reuters.

Republicans in the House are blocking a bill that would prevent a tax increase on the first $250,000 of income earned by all Americans, President Barack Obama said on Saturday.

The Democratic-controlled Senate has approved the measure, but Obama said House Republicans have 'put forward an unbalanced plan that actually lowers rates for the wealthiest Americans.'

Obama supports a plan to raise taxes on families earning more than $250,000. In his weekly radio and Internet address, Obama said 'the math just doesn't work' on the GOP plan.

Obama's comments mark the fourth time since his re-election that he has used the radio address to push for middle-class tax cuts as part of a plan to avert a looming fiscal cliff - and his most sharply partisan tone.

Clashing: President Barack Obama, pictured left, said Republicans in the House are blocking a bill that would prevent a tax increase on the first $250,000 of income earned by all Americans

Obama said his plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans should come as no surprise to Republicans or anyone else.'After all, this was a central question in the election. A clear majority of Americans - Democrats, Republicans and independents - agreed with a balanced approach that asks something from everyone, but a little more from those who can most afford it,' Obama said.

His plan is 'the only way to put our economy on a sustainable path without asking even more from the middle class,' Obama said. It also is the only plan he is willing to sign, the president said.

Obama's comments came as House Speaker John Boehner said Friday there has been no progress in negotiations to avert the 'fiscal cliff,' a combination of automatic tax increases and spending cuts set to take effect in January.

No surprise: Obama said his plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans should come as no surprise to Republicans or anyone else

Boehner said the White House has wasted another week and has failed to respond to a GOP offer to raise tax revenues and cut spending.

Obama and Boehner spoke privately by phone on Wednesday. Boehner described the conversation as pleasant, 'but just more of the same.'

Obama said in his address that he stands ready to work with Republicans on a plan that spurs economic growth, creates jobs and reduces the national deficit.

He said he wants to find ways to bring down health care costs without hurting seniors and is willing to make more cuts in entitlement programs such as Medicare.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said in the Republican response on Saturday that tax increases will not solve the nation's $16 trillion debt. Only economic growth and reform of entitlement programs will help control the debt, Rubio said.

Former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who was elected as a Republican and then ran unsuccessfully for the Senate as an independent, announced on Twitter today that he is switching to the Democratic Party.

The announcement fanned speculation that Crist would seek to regain his old job from Republican Governor Rick Scott in 2014.

Crist sent out a tweet that said: 'Proud and honored to join the Democratic Party in the home of President @Barack Obama!'

Flipper: Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention, announced he was joining the party

The tweet included a photo of a smiling Crist and his wife Carole as he held up a Florida voter registration application.

The Tampa Bay Times reports that Crist signed the papers changing his affiliation from independent to Democrat at a Christmas reception at the White House.

President Barack Obama greeted the news with a fist bump.

'I've had friends for years tell me, `You know Charlie, you're a Democrat and you don't know it,'' Crist told the newspaper on Friday night.He cited the Republican Party's shift to the right on a range of issues, including immigration, education and the environment. Crist was elected Florida governor in 2006 while in the GOP.

As he moved to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010, he faced a tough primary challenge from the right and bolted the GOP to run as an independent. He lost a three-way Senate contest in 2010 to Republican Marco Rubio.

Change: Crist said the Republicans had moved too far to the right on matters of education, immigration, and the environment

Crist, 56, spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., that nominated Obama for a second term and campaigned for his re-election.

Crist's decision to switch to a Democrat will increase speculation that he intends to challenge Scott, a former hospital chain CEO who has struggled with low favorability ratings since taking office.

Crist has already criticized Scott for refusing to extend early voting despite pleas from U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and other Democrats.

But it is unlikely that Crist would get a clear path to the Democratic nomination. Former State Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, has already jumped into the race and former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink could run.

Sink barely lost the 2010 governor's race to Scott.

Opportunity: Pundits speculate Crist will use his new party to run for office

Some Democrats remain wary of Crist and even outgoing Florida Democratic Party chairman Rod Smith has joked that just because someone joins the congregation, 'you don't make them the preacher.'

Steve Schale, a Democratic political consultant who worked on Obama's Florida campaign, called a Crist a 'viable Democrat'.

'He earned his stripes when he supported the president,' Schale said.

But Schale predicted that if Crist runs for governor, he would likely get a challenge from Sink and other Democrats and would have to endure a hard-fought primary.

Republicans in recent weeks have already ramped up their criticism of Crist and have pointed out that in the past he was critical of Obama and once described himself as a Republican in the mold of President Ronald Reagan and Crist's predecessor as governor, Jeb Bush.

Rick Wilson, a Florida-based Republican consultant, predicted that Crist would have to spend the next 14 months explaining how his switch to Democrat was something beyond just his own political ambitions.

ALEXANDRIA, VA - NOVEMBER 06: People enter Washington Mill Elementary School to cast their vote in the U.S. presidential race, on November 6, 2012, in Alexandria, Virginia. Recent polls show that U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are in a tight race. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) #

ALEXANDRIA, VA - NOVEMBER 06: People wait inside Washington Mill Elementary School to cast their vote in the U.S. presidential race, on November 6, 2012, in Alexandria, Virginia. Recent polls show that U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are in a tight race. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) #

BELMONT, MA - NOVEMBER 06: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney prepares to cast his ballot at Beech Street Center on November 6, 2012 in Belmont, Massachusetts. As Americans are heading to the ballots, polls show that U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are in a tight race. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) #

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - NOVEMBER 6: Voters wait in line and the rain to cast their vote on November 6, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The swing state of Florida is recognised to be a hotly contested battleground that offers 29 electoral votes, as recent polls predict that the race between U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney remains tight. (Photo by Edward Linsmier/Getty Images) #

MILFORD, VA - NOVEMBER 06: People wait in line to vote at Caroline High School on November 6, 2012 in Milford, Virginia. The swing state of Virginia is recognised to be a hotly contested battleground that offers 13 votes, with recent polls showing that the race between U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney remains tight. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) #

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 6: People walk past a polling station at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 in Washington, DC. The latest polls continue to show a tight race between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) #

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 6: People line up to cast their ballots at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 in Washington, DC. The latest polls continue to show a tight race between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) #

BEDFORD, MA - NOVEMBER 06: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (2R) prepares to board his campaign plane with his son Tagg Romney (L) on November 6, 2012 in Bedford, Massachusetts. The race for the presidency remains tight as Americans are heading to the polls to cast their ballots. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) #

PORTAGE, OH - NOVEMBER 6: A sign reminding local residents to vote is seen November 6, 2012 in Portage, Ohio. Voting is underway in the battleground state of Ohio in the U.S. presidential election between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by J.D. Pooley/Getty Images) #

GEORGETOWN, WI - NOVEMBER 6: Election Inspector Jim Nodorft unfurls the American flag to hang it up outside the Smelser Town hall as the polls opened at 7 a.m. on November 6, 2012 in Georgetown, Wisconsin. U.S. citizens go to the polls today to vote in the election between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. (Photo by Mark Hirsch/Getty Images) #

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMEMBER 06: Sandy Hinson adjusts a sticker after casting her vote at Cleveland Avenue Baptist Church on November 6, 2012 in Kansas City, Missouri. Recent polls show that U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are in a tight race. (Photo by Julie Denesha/Getty Images) #

CRAWFORDVILLE, FL - NOVEMBER 6: People line up to vote on November 6, 2012 in Crawfordville, Florida. The swing state of Florida is a hotly contested battleground that offers 29 electoral votes. Recent polls show that the race between U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney remains tight. (Photo by Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images) #

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - NOVEMBER 6: Volunteer David Bowser peeks outside the Pinellas County Democratic Party headquarters November 6, 2012 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Bowser showed up to provide rides to polls for those in need. The swing state of Florida is a hotly-contested battleground that offers 29 electoral votes. (Photo by Edward Linsmier/Getty Images) #

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 06: People wait on line to vote in the presidential elections at the Boys and Girls Republic located in the Lillian Wald housing projects in Manhattan's East Village neighborhood on November 6, 2012 in New York City. The projects and building flooded during Superstorm Sandy and the East Village lost power for four days. The building still is lacking heat as voters wait in the cold to cast their ballot. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) #

MANCHESTER, NH - NOVEMBER 6: Voters walk past supporters holding signs on their way to casting ballots at Northwest Elementary School November 6, 2012 in Manchester, New Hampshire. The race between incumbent President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney will come down to certain swing states like New Hampshire. (Photo by Darren McCollester/Getty Images) #

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 06: Election worker Susan Keller sets up directional signs before the polling station at the Clark County Fire Training Center opens on November 6, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Voting is underway in the battleground state of Nevada as President Barack Obama and Republican nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remain in a virtual tie in the national polls. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) #

LAS VEGAS, NV - NOVEMBER 06: First time voter Trevon Robinson casts his ballot at the polling station at the Clark County Fire Training Center on November 6, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Voting is underway in the battleground state of Nevada as President Barack Obama and Republican nominee former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney remain in a virtual tie in the national polls. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) #

WASHINGTON, D.C. - NOVEMBER 6: Children from Kingdom Kinds Child Development Center march past a polling station to get out the vote at Dunbar High School on November 6, 2012 in Washington, DC. The latest polls continue to show a tight race between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images) #

OAKMONT, PA - NOVEMBER 06: Obama and Romney cookie trays beckon shoppers at the Oakmont Bakery on November 6, 2012 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Cookie purchase polls reveal customers have purchased 2,332 Romney cookies while 1,745 Obama cookies have been sold. As Americans are heading to the ballots, polls show that U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney are in a tight race. (Photo by Jeff Swensen/Getty Images) #

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 06: Mike Wigart (2nd L), 30, picks up his ballot at a polling station in the garage of the Los Angeles County lifeguard headquarters on November 6, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. Californians will cast ballots in dozens of tight races including Gov. Jerry Brown's tax plan, abolishing the death penalty, easing the state's strict "three strikes" sentencing law and also in the Presidential race between Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican candidate Mitt Romney. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) #

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, OH - NOVEMBER 06: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) greets workers at a GOP Victory Center on November 6, 2012 in Richmond Heights, Ohio. The presidential race remains tight as Americans are heading to the polls to cast their ballots. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) #

SANDY HOOK, VA - NOVEMBER 06: Voters wait in line to place their ballots at a polling station on November 6, 2012 in Sandy Hook, Virginia. The swing state of Virginia is recognized to be a hotly contested battleground with recent polls showing that the race between U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney remains tight. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) #

BERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 06: A U.S. citizen and Obama supporter makes a call prior to a U.S. election party hostes by Democrats Abroad at the Babylon Theater on November 6, 2012 in Berlin, Germany. Polls suggest today's voting in American presidential elections will create a neck and neck race between incumbent Democrat President Barack Obama and his opponent, Republican Mitt Romney. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images) #

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 06: Rockaway resident and New York City firefighter Terence O'Donnell marks his ballot in a makeshift tent set up as a polling place at Scholars' Academy, PS 180, in the Rockaway neighborhood on November 6, 2012 in the Queens borough of New York City. The Rockaway section of Queens was one of the hardest hit areas and O'Donnell's home is damaged. Many voters in New York and New Jersey are voting at alternate locations in the presidential election due to disruption from Superstorm Sandy. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) #

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 06: People view a list of polling places in the Rockaway neighborhood on November 6, 2012 in the Queens borough of New York City. The Rockaway section of Queens was one of the hardest hit areas. Many voters in New York and New Jersey are voting at alternate locations in the presidential election due to disruption from Superstorm Sandy. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) #

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 06: Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney greets workers at call center on November 6, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The presidential race remains tight as Americans are heading to the polls to cast their ballots. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) #

TOPSHOTS People prepare to cast their ballots inside polling booths just after midnight on November 6, 2012 in Dixville Notch, New hampshire, the very first voting to take place in the 2012 US presidential election. The final national polls showed an effective tie, with either US President Barack Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney favored by a single point in most surveys, reflecting the polarized politics of a deeply divided nation. AFP PHOTO / ROGERIO BARBOSA #

Voters line up to cast their vote at the Boston Public Library November 6, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. The final national polls showed an effective tie, with either US President Barack Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney favored by a single point in most surveys. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY #

Voters use floor space and stand when booths were not available while filling out paper ballots at Tremont Elementary School during election day November 6, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. Citizens around the United States head to the polls to vote on the country's next president including in Ohio, a state with 18 electoral votes, were the race between US President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney is very close. AFP PHOTO/Brendan SMIALOWSKI #

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg(2ndL) visits his local polling station to vote in the 2012 Presidential Election in New York on November 6, 2012. From a symbolic hamlet to a critical swing state neighboring the halls of power in Washington to the storm-scarred streets of metropolitan New York, Americans rose early to cast ballots for Barack Obama or Mitt Romney. MEHDI TAAMALLAH/AFP/Getty Images #

A long line of voters is seen outside Mt.Bethel Baptist Church in Washington, DC on November 6, 2012 as Americans headed to the polls Tuesday after a burst of last-minute campaigning by President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in a nail-biting contest unlikely to heal a deeply polarized nation. EVA HAMBACH/AFP/Getty Images #

US President Barack Obama calls a volunteer as he visits a campaign office in Chicago, Illinois, on election day, November 6, 2012. US polling stations opened on November 6, with Democratic incumbent Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney locked in a tight presidential contest after a burst of last-minute campaigning. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images #

US President Barack Obama autographs on a shoe for a supporter as leaves after visiting a campaign office in Chicago, Illinois, on election day, November 6, 2012. US polling stations opened on November 6, with Democratic incumbent Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney locked in a tight presidential contest after a burst of last-minute campaigning. JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images #

People wait to vote at a polling station in Washington,DC on November 6, 2012. Americans head to the polls after a burst of last-minute campaigning by President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in a nail-biting contest unlikely to heal a deeply polarized nation. After a long, expensive and fiercely negative campaign, voters will decide whether to re-elect Obama despite the plodding economy or hand the reins to Romney, who has vowed a return to prosperity through smaller government. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images #

People check in to vote at a polling station in Washington,DC on November 6, 2012. Americans head to the polls after a burst of last-minute campaigning by President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in a nail-biting contest unlikely to heal a deeply polarized nation. After a long, expensive and fiercely negative campaign, voters will decide whether to re-elect Obama despite the plodding economy or hand the reins to Romney, who has vowed a return to prosperity through smaller government. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images #

Voters cast their ballots at the Happy Village bar that is being used as a polling place in Chicago, Illinois on November 6, 2012. Citizens around the United States head to the polls to vote on the country's next president including in Ohio, a state with 18 electoral votes, were the race between US President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney is very close. JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images #

People cast their ballot at a polling station in a laundromat, November 6, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois in the US presidential election. The final national polls showed an effective tie, with either US President Barack Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney favored by a single point in most surveys. ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images #

Voters lined up to cast their vote at the Boston Public Library November 6, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts. The final national polls showed an effective tie, with either US President Barack Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney favored by a single point in most surveys. TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images #

US embassy staff move life-size figures of US President Barack Obama (R) and US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney (2-R) at a hotel during preparations for the US election night, in San Salvador, El Salvador on November 6, 2012. Jose CABEZAS/AFP/Getty Images #

Voters cast their ballots on Election Day at Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post #

Merrie Blanchard takes a photo of her daughter Brooke after the younger Blanchard voted for the first time on Election Day at Storey Gym in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Posta #

Vice President Joe Biden receives an excited response from Twana Bradley when visiting her table during an impromptu stop at Landmark Restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Ozier Muhammad/The New York Times) #

Nick Wardle, right, makes calls to voters urging them to vote for President Barack Obama at an Obama for America phone bank in San Francisco, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times) #

Voters turn in their ballots at Alvarado Elementary School in San Francisco, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times) #

Volunteers call voters urging them to vote for President Barack Obama at a phone bank in San Francisco, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Jim Wilson/The New York Times) #

Voters line up at dawn outside a polling station in Sun City Center, Fla., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Brian Blanco/The New York Times) #

Hellena Rodriguez, a supporter of Mitt Romney, who stopped to have her photo taken next to a Romney campaign bus, in Tampa, Fla., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Brian Blanco/The New York Times) #

Quinlan Bucklaew, 6, the son of a Mitt Romney campaign volunteer, plays with a large stuffed elephant he was given at a campaign office in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Brian Blanco/The New York Times) #

Voters cast ballots at a polling station at Ray Lounsberry's shed in Nevada Township, Iowa on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Mark Makela/The New York Times) #

Volunteer Ralph Raymond holds a curtain open for a voter at a polling station in the Talbot Gym in Exeter, N.H., Nov. 6, 2012. Voting for the presidential election began Tuesday morning. (Cheryl Senter /The New York Times) #

Olivia Gauthier, 7, holds her mom's coat and crouches under the voting booth as her mom casts her ballot at the West Street Wardhouse in Concord, N.H., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Cheryl Senter/The New York Times) #

Voters prepare to cast their ballots inside a polling place at the Bay Head Fire Co. No. 1 station, in Bay Head, N.J., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Victor J. Blue/The New York Times) #

Rep. Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.) votes at a polling station at Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Kinderhook, N.Y., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. Gibson is running for reelection. (Nathaniel Brooks/The New York Times) #

Voters, many still without power, heat or water since Hurricane Sandy struck last week, wait in line to cast ballots at a polling station in Far Rockaway High School, also without heat since the storm, in the Queens borough of New York, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times) #

Elizabeth Arciuolo votes at a polling station in a tent outside P.S. 52 in the Staten Island borough of New York, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. Hurricane Sandy caused widespread damage to the area last week. (Todd Heisler/The New York Times) #

Election workers Mary Lou Barcia, left, and Nettie DeSilvia, help voters at a polling station in a tent outside P.S. 52 in the Staten Island borough of New York, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. Hurricane Sandy caused widespread damage to the area last week. (Todd Heisler/The New York Times) #

Voters cast ballots at a polling station in a church without electricity since Hurricane Sandy struck last week, in Yorktown, N.Y., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times) #

Lucia Antonio and her mother Judy Prosper look at a sample ballot while waiting in line to vote at a polling station in a church without electricity since Hurricane Sandy struck last week, in Yorktown, N.Y., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times) #

Voters prepare to cast their ballots by the light of a few lamps powered by a generator, at Emanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Pleasantville, N.Y., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Suzanne DeChillo/The New York Times) #

Voters wait in line and tables to cast ballots on one of the only two working voting machines in a polling station at the VFW Post 3747 in Canton, Ohio, Nov. 6, 2012. Voting for the presidential election began Tuesday morning. (Michael F. McElroy/The New York Times) #

Voters receive stickers at a polling station in Athens, Ohio, Nov. 6, 2012. Voting for the presidential election began Tuesday morning. (Meg Roussos/The New York Times) #

Voters cast ballots at a polling station in Reedurban Presbyterian Church in Canton, Ohio, on Election Day Nov. 6, 2012. (Michael F. McElroy/The New York Times) #

Volunteers for the presidential campaign of President Barack Obama canvas the streets in Canton, Ohio, on Election Day Nov. 6, 2012. (Michael F. McElroy/The New York Times) #

Anne Trenolone, a Mitt Romney campaign volunteer who came from New York, walks door to door in Jackson Township, Ohio, on Election Day Nov. 6, 2012. (Michael F. McElroy/The New York Times) #

Randy Szerszen, left, casts his ballot after picking up his children, who are waiting beside him, from school, in Cleveland, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Michael F. McElroy/The New York Times) #

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), the Republican vice presidential candidate, votes at a polling station in Hedberg Public Library with his wife, Janna, and daughter, Elizabeth, and son, Sam, in Janesville, Wis., on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012. (Josh Haner/The New York Times) #

Voters line up to cast their ballots outside a polling station at the Elks Lodge in Waukesha, Wisc., Nov. 6, 2012. Voting for the presidential election began Tuesday morning. (Kirsten Luce/The New York Times) #

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

ELECTION DAY

ELECTION DAY IN PICTURES:

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US presidential election: How the 2012 race for the White House shone a rare spotlight onto the real America

'Congrats to @KarlRove on blowing $400 million this cycle. Every race @CrossroadsGPS ran ads in, the Republicans lost. What a waste of money,' he wrote to his 1,800,000 followers.

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