In the end it wasn’t even that close.
Barack Obama seems set to become the first candidate since Ronald Reagan to twice win over 50% of the vote.
It’s not all glorious though. He’s also the first president since Franklin D Roosevelt in 1944, to be re-elected with less support than he won the previous time. Obama’s win is also the second narrowest US presidential re-election ever, beaten only by the narrowness of the win by the disastrous President Bush over Senator John Kerry in 2004.
But this is still a lot better than losing. Although Obama’s first term has been slightly disappointing in some ways, his presidency still feels unfinished. This wasn’t his time to go.
And make no mistake: a Mitt Romney presidency would have been a disaster.
Obama should be wary though. Second terms are often harder than the first. Bush’s was even more terrible than his first four years. Clinton was besieged by the Lewinsky scandal after re-election. Reagan and Nixon fell foul to Iran-Contra and Watergate.
But let’s not worry about that now. Congratulations to President Obama. The world can now breathe a collective sigh of relief.
Chris Hallam's World View 