US President Barack Obama told cheering supporters early Wednesday that "the best is yet to come" for the United States as he stormed to a second term by defeating Republican Mitt Romney.
After taking the stage at a raucous Chicago victory party with wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia, Obama returned to the themes of his re-election bid, vowing to fight for the middle class and the American dream.
Obama said he had spoken to Romney, congratulating him and his running mate Paul Ryan, on a "hard-fought campaign" and vowing to sit down with the former Massachusetts governor to discuss the way forward.
"We may have battled fiercely but it's only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future," Obama said.