“Today, the Electoral College formalized the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. I congratulate the President-Elect on his historic victory and look forward to working with him on the challenges facing our country.

 

“Barack Obama will be sworn in during one of the most difficult periods in our history. The nation is faced with two wars, instability in the Middle East, and an extraordinary economic crisis here at home. Having pledged to work across party lines to confront these challenges, President-Elect Obama has already shown that he's an exceptional leader who will rise to the occasion and make the best of this moment in history.”