Democrat Barack Obama of Illinois has soundly defeated former Ambassador Alan Keyes for an open U.S. Senate seat.
The race was the first to pit two African-Americans against each other in a Senate race. When he takes office in January, Obama will be the fifth black U.S. senator in history.
The latest returns had Obama securing 81 percent of the vote to Keyes’ 16 percent.
Barack Obama |
Keyes, who hails from Maryland, was recruited to run as the Republican nominee when Jack Ryan dropped out of the race over embarrassing allegations about his sex life.
Obama, 43, is a state senator from Chicago who shot to national prominence with a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention.
At a victory party tonight, Obama’s wife, Michelle, introduced him, saying he is “almost perfect.”
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WND Staff