Acknowledging
the deep divisiveness that has polarized much of the nation, Obama
vowed to work with GOP leaders on major looming issues, including the
deficit, tax code and reinvigorating the economy.
Obama won at
least 25 states, capturing 303 electoral votes, but held just a slim
lead in the popular vote. Romney, who won 24, said in his concession
speech that it was time to end bipartisan bickering.
"This is a
time of great challenge for America, and I pray the president will be
successful in guiding our nation,'' Romney said.
"The nation is at
a critical point. At a time like this, we can't risk partisan
bickering," said Romney, who urged Democrats and Republicans to work
together on key issues, such as reviving the economy and growing jobs.
Democrats held their narrow majority in the Senate on Tuesday,
grabbing Republican seats in Massachusetts and Indiana and turning aside
GOP challenges in Missouri, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Republicans were well on the way to retaining control of the House of
Representatives, ensuring that Congress will be divided at the start of
Obama's second term.
One of the smallest of the battleground
states, New Hampshire, went for Obama. So did Nevada, a state that went
for Obama in 2008. Obama made 10 trips to the state, beset with the
nation's highest unemployment rate and one of the nation's highest home
foreclosure rates. Another toss-up state, Colorado, also went for Obama.
The president won Pennsylvania, a state Romney looked to late in the
campaign for a potential upset.
Exit polls of voters leaving their
voting places suggested a razor-close outcome in a deeply divided
nation, with the incumbent holding a small advantage, 51%-47%. That
finding was from a survey of more than 25,565 voters nationally.
All
told, Obama won at least 25 states, while Romney won at least 22
states, including much of the South, Plains and Mountain West. On the
West Coast, Obama won California and Washington.
Obama won two of
Romney's home states — Massachusetts, where the Republican won one
election as governor, and Michigan, where Romney was born. Romney also
has a home in New Hampshire, where he lost.
Obama's strength was
in the Northeast and parts of the Mid-Atlantic region, including New
York. He won his home state of Illinois as well as Vice President
Biden's Delaware.
Exit polls of voters in key states showed the economy was the top
issue on voters' minds, and on that and other key issues the nation
remains sharply divided. It was clear that Obama would not do as well as
he did in 2008, when he won with a 7.3% margin of the popular vote.
The
exit polls suggested Romney won among men by double digits. Obama won
among women, who were a focus of much of the campaign, but by a smaller
margin than four years ago.