DNA
 
Washington, Nov 5: "The road ahead will be long and the climb will be steep, but we will get there. I promise you that we as a people will get there," US president-elect Barack Obama told a huge crowd that had gathered in Chicago's Grant Park to celebrate his victory late on Tuesday.

The Democratic candidate, who was declared elected as the 44th president of the United States roughly an hour earlier by US television networks, appeared before the gathering and the country with his wife Michelle and daughters Natasha and Malia, soaking in the elation of the moment.

Obama, who made history as the first black person to be elected to the highest office in the United States, said "change has come to America", a new dawn that re-established the country's credentials as the world's leading nation and reiterated its founding principles. But he also cautioned the country that "this is not the change, this is the chance to make the change".

Obama told the gathering that he had received an "extraordinarily gracious call" from his defeated Republican rival, Senator John McCain. Gracious in victory, Obama said his rival had fought long and hard in the campaign as he had fought long and hard for his country. "We are better off for the service rendered to the country by this leader," he said, adding that he looked forward to working with him to "renew the promise of this nation".

Obama thanked the "rock of our family, the love of my life, the next first lady" Michelle Obama for her unstinting support and told his daughters that they "have earned the new puppy that is coming with us to the White House".

Obama also thanked his campaign manager and strategists, saying they had mounted "the best campaign ever in the history of the United States".

Obama said the victory, however, belonged to the people of the United States and pledged to remain open to the views of the people and keep listening to them.