CNN’s Ben Wedeman has filed this dispatch from Cairo, Egypt:
“I woke up at 6:15 a.m, just minutes before CNN called the election for President Barack Obama, in my hotel room overlooking Tahrir Square to find nothing out of the ordinary. Early morning Cairo was hazy, slowly waking up, just a few cars in the street.
Cairenes like to say their's is a city that never sleeps, but 6:15 a.m. is where you discover, well, even this sleepless city needs a few hours of rest. After hearing Wolf Blitzer give the details, a banner appeared at the bottom of my screen, which was tuned into Egyptian Channel 1. It wasn't until 7 a.m. that an anchor and a reporter (on the phone from Washington, D.C.) discussed the news.
In the news studio, another journalist noted, as is well known here, that most Egyptians preferred President Barack Obama over Mitt Romney because, in his words, "the Republican Party is hardline on the Palestinians."
He went on to note that the US elections do underscore that the United States "is a country of institutions," where strategic interests don't change with the change of administrations.”
“Mitt Romney fought the good fight”
In an opinion piece for the website of UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph, historian Tim Stanley says Romney played the game “as well as he could,” and was on the right side of many of the issues. Read article here: bit.ly
The Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council issued a joint statement... it reads in part:
"We have the pleasure of extending our warm congratulations to President Obama on his re-election as President of the United States of America. The United States is a key strategic partner of the European Union and we look forward to continuing the close cooperation established with President Obama over these last four years, to further strengthening our bilateral ties and to jointly addressing global challenges, including in the fields of security and economy." -- Jose Manuel Barroso, Herman Van Rompuy
Credit: Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty Images
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, seen here at a plenery session of the 9th summit Asia-Europe (ASEM 9) on November 6, 2012 has released a statement congratulating Obama on his second term confirmation. Credit: HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images
“On behalf of the Government and people of Australia, I offer warm congratulations to President Barack Obama on his re-election and wish him every success for his second term in office.
Australia has worked closely with President Obama and his Administration over the past four years. I look forward to continuing this friendship.
Australia and the United States are unique partners, linked through culture, values, shared sacrifice and a commitment to international peace and security. "
After weeks of being derided by media pundits everywhere for his polling analysis, Nate Silver's 538 blog may have called 50 out of 50 states correctly in the presidential election tonight. Not too shabby. Read Silver’s blog here: nyti.ms
Nothing says it better than a photo. Here’s our pick – so far – of the best images of world reaction to Obama’s win.
This one shows students at the State Elementary School Menteng 01, where U.S. President Barack Obama studied from 1970-1971, cheering as they watch the U.S presidential election on television in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Credit: Enny Nuraheni/Reuters/Landov
From CNN’s Al Goodman in Madrid:
“Spaniards closely followed the U.S. presidential race, especially because Spain was mentioned during the campaign as a big problem among European nations suffering an economic crisis. The jobless rate here is more than 25%.
“So many Spaniards are pleased that Barack Obama was re-elected. He said the world can’t let Spain sink. They hope further economic recovery in the United States will help Europe and Spain get back on their feet.”
After Obama win, hope and relief in China
CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout explains why China is breathing a sigh of relief after Obama’s victory. "China is quite happy that Obama won the election because Obama is a known entity," said political columnist Frank Ching. "It's better to have the devil you know, than the one you don't."
But the state-run People's Daily portends dark days ahead for the U.S. president: "As soon as Obama gets re-elected, he will immediately be confronted with the strangling of Washington's political machine."
For iReporter Rummel Pinera, who has been keeping tabs on the presidential race from his home in the Philippines, Obama's victory was a vindication of his hopes.
"I'm so happy to hear the news,” he said. “Obama is a huge icon for racial equality and social justice.”
Pinera said Obama's victory will work well for Filipinos, many of whom work overseas and send invaluable remittances, or funds, back home to support their families.
"The Obama administration's job-creating programs will certainly benefit Filipino migrant workers who are employed in the U.S., as well as such workers' families here in the Philippines," he said.
What do you think about the U.S. election? How does it affect you? Send us an iReport!
From our growing world photo gallery:
Indian artist Sudaran Pattnaik adds final touches to his Obama sand sculpture at Golden Sea Beach in Puri, India.
How did the world respond to President Obama’s re-election? Relive the night (and early morning) all right here, with comments, photos, videos and analysis from CNN correspondents around the globe.
The blog is now closed, but you can still get full election results here. And CNN.com, of course, will be following up with many more stories as we step back and digest this moment in history.
Blog curated by Nick Thompson and Lauren Said-Moorhouse in London, Hilary Whiteman in Hong Kong and Kyle Almond in Atlanta
