Politics & Government

Barack Obama Re-Elected President

President Obama defeats Republican Mitt Romney in the 2012 presidential election.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were re-elected Tuesday night, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney and his vice presidential running mate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan.

NBC News called the presidential election for Obama around 11:15 EST. The president sent a message on Twitter at 10:14 saying simply, "This happened because of you. Thank you."

The Obama campaign won the most expensive presidential race ever, with both parties raising about $2.6 billion. The race was filled with negative campaigning on both sides, from Obama attacking Romney’s business experience with Bain Capital to Romney lambasting Obama’s handling of the economy.

The race tightened during the final months of the campaign, with gaffes and surges from both candidates. After a weak performance after the Republican convention, Romney surged following Obama’s listless performance in the first presidential debate. Nevertheless, the president cemented a lead in battleground states heading into Tuesday’s election.

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Pennsylvania was one of the earliest swing states to be called for Obama, who spent little time and money campaigning here. Romney made a last-minute push in the Keystone State with a rally in Bucks County on Sunday and visits Monday by surrogate Rudy Giuliani.

Election Day across eastern Pennsylvania was marked by heavy voter turnout and problems at several polling places.

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Along with Obama, Pennsylvania's U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, won re-election, defeating Tea Party Republican Tom Smith, a coal magnate from the western part of the state.


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