Mitt Romney conceded he had lost to President Barack Obama early Wednesday morning, declaring that “this election is over, but our principles endure.” He called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory.
“I believe in America,” Romney said one final time, repeating his campaign’s slogan, decided long ago. “I so wish that I had been able to fulfill your hopes to lead the country in a different direction. But the nation chose another leader.”
The popular vote was close indeed, with Obama leading 49.5 per cent to 49 per cent as Romney conceded. But the battleground state fight for 270 electoral college votes wasn’t close at all
Obama won nearly all of the swing states that the two had fought over: Ohio, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and Virginia. Romney won North Carolina. Florida remained too close to call when Romney conceded. Obama won at least 303 Electoral College votes, while Romney carried at least 203.
Romney also lost states that his campaign had tried to put in play in the concluding weeks, including Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
