By Adrian Carrasquillo

The Role of Race

Conventional wisdom at the outset of the general election held that Barack Obama would lose because he would not garner the necessary support from white voters to win the Presidency. His increased support from African-Americans was acknowledged but its potential as a game-changer was largely dismissed. Well, conventional wisdom had the unfortunate drawback of being conventional during an election that was anything but.

Television networks project that Barack Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States.

By Mike Kelly

Democrat Brian X. Foley has defeated Republican incumbent Caesar Trunzo for the state Senate seat of New York's third district, according to a CNN projection.

John P. Murtha, D-Pa. won a bitter reelection campaign to the House. Murtha came under fire for saying that parts of Pennsylvania harbored white racists who wouldn't vote for Obama. In the end the Democratic sweep of much of the country surfaced in Pennsylvania as well. Obama's big victory had down ticket effects which helped Murtha win.

By Mike Kelly

CNN is projecting two-term Republican incumbent Jeff Sessions of Alabama and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to retain their Senate seats.

North Carolina, Florida, Virginia and Indiana are too close to call. The four states hold the key to an Obama landslide. McCain wins seem improbable but if he sweeps the states then the race will tighten up considerably.

By Mike Kelly

NBC News is projecting New Mexico for Obama.

New Mexico was a state that narrowly voted for George W. Bush in 2004. It was a battleground state in this election as well, with polls consistently showing Obama ahead in the state in the weeks leading up the election.

By Mike Kelly

NBC News is projecting the state of Ohio for Obama.

In 2004, George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in a tight race for the state. It was generally viewed as one of the most important battleground states of the 2008 election.

No Republican has ever won the presidency without winning the state of Ohio.

By Mike Kelly

CNN is projecting Elizabeth Dole, the incumbent Republican from North Carolina, will lose her Senate seat to Democratic contender Kay Hagan.

This is the third seat the GOP has lost in the Senate. John Sununu's seat in New Hampshire and the retiring John Warner's seat in Virginia were the other two.

Early exit polls show that Obama is winning the Hispanic vote in Florida. Florida's Hispanic vote may go for Obama 55-44. Bush won 56% of the Hispanic vote in 2004. Cubans make up a large proportion of the Hispanic vote in Florida and they are generally more conservative voters. Hispanic voters around the country generally vote Democratic.