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Reporting and analysis from ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent and "This Week" Host George Stephanopoulos

George Stephanopoulos reports on events in politics, Congress and the White House for ABCNews, on the air and online. He interviews top newsmakers, discusses the events of the week and looks to the week ahead each Sunday on 'This Week.'

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Some Intriguing Numbers

November 05, 2008 7:35 AM

Last night was Barack Obama's Goldilocks landslide.

He's the first Democrat since Jimmy Carter to get more than 50 percent of the vote.

He got the most popular vote since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

Obama's electoral college numbers are far greater than what George W. Bush got in 2000 and 20004.

But nothing close to what Ronald Reagan got in 1980 and 1984.

Three states are still too close to call: Missouri, Indiana, and North Carolina.

If he wins two out of three of those states, he'll be close to the number of electoral votes Bill Clinton got in 1992 and 1996.

And -- 63 percent of voters said the economy was the biggest problem facing the county; the next number closest was Iraq at 10 percent.

Other numbers -- Republicans hit an all-time low turnout.

Last time around voters split their party identification between the Democrats and Republicans 37-37.

This time around the Democrats got a seven-point gap -- 39 Democrats to only 32 Republicans.

--George Stephanopoulos

November 5, 2008 in Barack Obama, Democrats Vote 2008, John McCain, Republicans Vote 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (19)

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I am PROUD of America for comming
together ....Hows that Cindy wannnnabe .Take take your 500.000$ outfit back and get a refund and send to a charity,,,

Posted by: indp voter | Nov 5, 2008 8:04:21 AM

"Other numbers -- Republicans hit an all-time low turnout" - What happened did you guys just realize that you were not going to win and stay home and pout?

Posted by: Jenny Rome Ga | Nov 5, 2008 8:06:30 AM

Even though republicans lost

they have to look at the sight of all of our allies and the world cheering for us...and wanting to share and be apart in "America" again

and feel a little bit hopeful...or at the least be a little conflicted in their anger at losing...and the beliefs that brought them that anger.

Posted by: dl | Nov 5, 2008 8:10:16 AM

Hooray! Bless us all! The years of diplomatic ignorance, immoral actions, unregulated corporate greed, and general ethical filth of George W. Bush's destructive "reign" can now fade into history. It feels like we have a chance at getting our country back. We finally have an intelligent, articulate, and visionary young president that we don't have to feel ashamed of. Most of the world disliked Bush and are thrilled that Obama has beaten his regime! Do it Obama!
Jill Oakland, California

Posted by: Jill Forshee | Nov 5, 2008 8:18:06 AM

WELL DONE PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS TEAM AND AMERICAN VOTERS! CONGRATULATIONS! THE WORLD IS MOVING TOWARDS WORLD PEACE! THANK YOU GOD AND PLEASE BLESS AMERICA AND THE WORLD.

Posted by: Truth Reigns | Nov 5, 2008 8:22:06 AM

thanks for doing what had to be for so long---it is like a great weight being lifted off our country---the hate campaign run by the republican party is over---perhaps we can now return to the greatness we once knew,and the respect and envy of the world.. BUT MOST OF ALL REMEMBER ONE FACT----OBAMA IS JUST A MAN AND WE ALL HAVE TO DO OUR PART.--THANKS AGAIN

Posted by: rodney | Nov 5, 2008 8:24:49 AM

Fired up! Ready to Go!

Posted by: Jackson in NC | Nov 5, 2008 8:32:27 AM

GEEVIL, Come out and PLAAAAAAYYYY!!!

I think for the first time ever, I will watch a full episode of Hannity tonight. I want to hear what he has to say about this. Even he can't dispute that this is what the people wanted.

McCain will now be referring to that one, as Mr. President!

Anythings POSSIBLEEEEEEE!!!!!

President Obama and Vice President Biden...You have to respect it! Change has come, YES WE CAN, YES WE DID, YES WE WILL!!!

Posted by: DayAfter | Nov 5, 2008 8:37:09 AM

WE HAVE SHOWN WHAT THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE CAN DO IN THE USA ---NOW LETS SHOW THE WORLD.

Posted by: rodney | Nov 5, 2008 8:51:28 AM

The end to our long national nightmare/embarrassment is now in sight.

Posted by: Dennis | Nov 5, 2008 9:05:51 AM

I don't get it; 100% of precincts are reporting in North Carolina and no one has called it. What are you waiting for?

Posted by: Mortimer Snerd | Nov 5, 2008 9:21:20 AM

Hey Dennis, How can you be so sure that its the end of it, if you opened your eyes and ears before the election you would have known it was only the beginning. "If you tell a lie loud enough and long enough everyone will soon believe!" Adolph Hitler

Hey Mortimer, pull your head out it couldn't possibly matter now, damadge control at this point sir damadge control...

Posted by: J-J | Nov 5, 2008 10:55:55 AM

This is a message to my fellow Americans. We stand at the precipice of history today. And we need to recognize that fact. Whether Senator Obama wins or not is irrelevant. History has already been made and his presidency if he should win would be the icing on the proverbial cake. I was born in the early 60’s as I grew up the Black Panthers were prevalent. There were riots in Watts and Detroit. I listened to the “grown folks” at the time talk of being in marches in Selma, Birmingham and listening to King’s speech in DC. On King’s birthday before it was a holiday they talked about what they were doing and where they were at when he was assassinated. That was a time when almost every black home had two things on the wall; a picture of Jesus and a picture of Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy in the same picture right next to it.

As I grew older I was amazed at how empowered I felt in what I like to call the Second Movement. I remember Chuck D rapping; “Fight the power…and the now ironic single “By The time I get to Arizona” and other songs of the genre. The “Stop the Violence” movement was also in full effect as well and I watched in disbelief as LA was again set on fire to live through my in own riots in LA and other cities it seemed as thought things had come full circle. I remember how disappointed I was when Jessie Jackson got rejected in his bid to become president. I also remember how sad I felt when Colin Powell declined to run.

My father passed away 6 years ago and my mother is 78 years old. She marched at Selma and my father rallied at DC. I had tears of pride when the Senator from Illinois won the nomination in Denver. I thought back to how he really got there. When I get off of work today I am going to go to my mothers house and give her the biggest hug and kiss and say thank you for this for without you and people like this moment in history would not be possible. I will also congratulate her because a lot of the soldiers her and my father marched with missed this moment and she made it. I feel she has been truly blessed.

Americans from all walks of life, all faiths, all ethnicities, young and old. From rural villages to the big cities. North south east and west, we need to thank each other and realize that in this greatest country on earth all things are possible. And on a special note
what I am saying to you young gifted and black people, for one moment, just one moment in time put away your narcissism and self indulgence. Put away any feeling negativity and contempt. Whatever you are doing at this very moment STOP! I ask of you, and you are assuredly compelled to go and find any and every one of those remaining old soldiers in your family or someone else’s and thank them, give them a hug and say thank you again for laying the groundwork to make this day happen. They deserve it and we owe it to them. When you get done with that go and find the next Obama out there somewhere and make them understand that we can never go back. Celebrate today. Celebrate tomorrow but on Thursday roll your sleeves back up because it will be time to go back to work. Remember freedom is never won it is maintained and quoting Robert Frost, “We have many miles to go before we sleep”.

Thank You

Posted by: BIGDADDY757 | Nov 5, 2008 11:02:22 AM

Hey JJ, I don't understand where you're coming from. The long nightmare I referred to was the Bush presidency. Fine if you disagree with me on that, but then you are inconsistent with your other message.

Obama's election will be the best thing that's happened to America in a long time.

Posted by: Dennis | Nov 5, 2008 3:13:09 PM

The President BaraK .H. Obama


what has happened here is a mile stone not for African American, not for minority, not for immigrants, nor black and white but it is for the suppressed humanity. An ordinary suppressed human (Barak H Obama) is the representative for all the humanity, the President the most powerful person. Now the liberty for suppressed ones is your responsibility. Take the harm away from innocents ones and not let die children and women for no reason.


You are the reflection of all those walking down the street all over the world just trying to make living for their families and when they got tired, they get together and supported one like them and have him give the opportunity to get to the place where he can make life easier for rest of the humanity.


God may bless you,

Posted by: Sabih | Nov 5, 2008 9:42:16 PM

Hey.....J-J.....it is spelled...damage...not..damadge!

Posted by: orangecat | Nov 6, 2008 1:25:37 AM

The 100% reporting may not include
absentee ballots since the number refers to the "precincts" or "districts" reporting their results.

Some States have an automatic recount law if the results are extremely close. For example, minnesota will be recounting the Senator election because it was less than 0.5% difference between the two top candidates.

Posted by: estelle133 | Nov 6, 2008 6:45:37 PM

George, I know that history was made on election night, and please before we start doing anything I think that we need to stop, and pray for what we have now, and not regret later. Let's watch what happens, and not be so critical on each other. Let's give the President-Elect a chance to be able to do this big job ,and all that is on his plate which is a lot but let's remember that we are THE UNITED STATES, and we stand as one nation no matter who you are as long as we are in this together ,and to thank one another. Give the PRESIDENT-ELECT all the PRAYERS AND SUPPORT THAT HE NEEDS NOW.

Posted by: Char Brown | Nov 6, 2008 10:13:58 PM

blah blah

Posted by: go palin | Nov 18, 2008 8:22:11 AM

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