Democratic Sen. Barack Obama defeated Republican candidate Sen. John McCain for the office of the 44th president of the United States of America. Obama made history as the first African-American president for the U.S.
The first-term senator from Illinois won the popular and electoral vote throughout America. Obama had 349 electoral votes to McCain’s 163 electoral votes. President-elect Obama won 53 percent of the popular vote, while McCain won 46 percent of the American vote.
President of Mississippi State University’s College Democrats Chris Walton said he is happy about the election results.
“This is one of those things I look forward to telling my kids and grand kids about,” he said.
Walton said he voted for Obama because he agreed with his promises of tax cuts for the middle class and not the rich and universal health care for everyone.
Nathaniel Dobbs, MSU College Republicans chairman, said he is disappointed but excited for the future.
“As an American I hope he [Obama] succeeds. I hope he reaches across the aisle,” he said.
Dobbs said he chose to vote for McCain because of his stances on limited government and social issues.
Sophomore education major Margaret Black said she was surprised by the number of voters that came out for the election.
“I am upset by the loss of the Republican Party, but am ready to see what happens in our country during the upcoming years,” Black said
Dobbs said Obama successfully connected McCain with President George W. Bush’s economic policies.
With Obama’s administration, Walton said he expects the openness Americans have not seen for the last eight years from the current administration.
He said he thinks the energy crisis will be fixed and gas prices will not be a problem anymore.
Sophomore communication major Hailey Hawkins said she is pleased with the outcome of the presidential election, but not surprised.
“I suspect he will first focus on the economy and then turn his energies to the occupation of Iraq,” Hawkins said.
Mississippi Republican Roger Wicker defeated Democrat Ronnie Musgrove in the Senate race. Wicker won 606,151 votes to the former governor of Mississippi’s 488,367 votes.
Dobbs said he supported Wicker because of his economic plan, his plans to control government spending and increase jobs in Mississippi, and his commitment to the future of the state’s agriculture.
“Musgrove hurt himself a lot here in this state by tying himself to Obama,” Dobbs said.
Walton said he is disappointed Musgrove did not win and by the amount of negative attacks during the Mississippi Senate election process.
“I think he [Wicker] can do great things if he works well with Obama,” Walton said.
Dobbs said he thinks the nation will see a lot of younger dynamics in the party and new leadership within the House and Senate.
Walton said he hopes the Democratic Party continues to grow in new places the party does not normally venture.