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chicagotribune.com >> Special reports >> Elections
Barack Obama's landslide victory sets stage for national role
By David Mendell and John Chase
Tribune staff reporters
Published November 3, 2004, 1:42 PM CST
Still exhausted from a long night and a historic victory, U.S. Sen.-elect Barack Obama squeezed in just two hours of sleep Wednesday morning before his wake-up call came at 4:45 a.m. so he could get ready for a barrage of television interviews.
And so began the first day of Obama's new life, as the sole black voice in the U.S. Senate and one of the few bright spots Democrats can look to on a day when they failed to defeat President Bush and lost ground in the U.S. House and Senate.
Obama made the rounds on the local and national talk-show circuit, explaining that he believes his thrashing of Republican rival Alan Keyes indicates most voters in Illinois do not think he is too liberal to represent them in Washington.
Unofficial results show that with 98 percent of the precincts reporting, Obama crushed Keyes 70 percent to 27 percent, a record blowout for a Senate election in Illinois.
Obama's easy win sets the stage for the 43-year-old state senator from Hyde Park to become a major political figure on the national stage.
The Democrats were already in the minority in the Senate before Tuesday, and the Republican grip on the chamber grew even larger on Election Day. That dynamic will certainly make it more difficult for Obama to move forward on his legislative wish list, which is topped by broadening health-care coverage.
But his simple presence in the Senate may become his biggest weapon as he will likely be tapped by national Democrats to be a new face for the party and a voice for the opposition.
Still, Obama, trying to be a bridge-builder, said one of his first jobs would be to talk to all Illinoisans -- especially those who voted against him -- and find out what they want from the new junior senator. As part of that effort, he plans to tour the state next week to speak with voters.
"[You need] to travel all across the state and not only talk to people who supported you but also to people who did not and find out what strategies they think will have most of an impact in their local comminutes on schools, jobs and health care," Obama told WGN-TV Wednesday morning.
Obama captured national and international attention in scoring his victory. In Kenya, where his father was a well-known politician and where election returns of the race were announced over the radio, President Mwai Kibaki sent his congratulations along.
"You have proved to be a role model not only for the American youth but the many young people in Kenya and indeed in Africa who have been following your campaigns, that exhibited a high degree of innovation, professionalism and vigor," Kibaki said in a statement.
After many of his media interviews were completed, Obama spent 25 minutes at Union Station in downtown Chicago, shaking hands and thanking voters for their support.
Still by late morning, Obama and his staff remained mystified that Keyes had not called to formally concede the race, Obama aides said. Keyes made no public appearances early Wednesday and neither he nor his aides could be reached for comment.
He spoke to supporters Tuesday night after Obama declared victory, but the Republican did not use the appearance to acknowledge his defeat or to congratulate Obama.
Many in the Obama campaign thought Keyes might call Obama on Wednesday and express such sentiments, but he had not as of midday.
"At some point you have to look at the scoreboard and you have to stand up and be a man," Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
After his interviews and visit to Union Station, Obama retreated from the limelight -- for a few hours anyhow -- to spend some time with his family.
Tribune staff reporter Liam Ford and Tribune news services contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2004, Chicago Tribune
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