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DAILY KENT STATER watch. read. listen. react.
www.KentNewsNet.com
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 • The independent student newspaper of Kent State University
YESTERDAY OUR NATION MADE HISTORY. SEE HOW EACH STATE VOTED. PAGE A10, A11
THE WAIT, THE HOPE,
A NEW ERA
President-elect Barack Obama, left, his wife Michelle Obama, right, and two daughters, Malia, 7, and Sasha, 10, wave at the election night rally in Chicago yesterday.
Jae C. Hong | ASSOCIATED PRESS
Grins and tears of joy at Chicago’s Grant Park
Obama triumphs, will be first black U.S. president
Theresa Bruskin
David Espo
CHICAGO — In a shout heard around the world and back, hundreds of thousands of Obama supporters crowded into Grant Park and greeted the news that would change the world forever — the United States had elected its first black president. ¶ The faces Barack Obama’s campaign made so familiar over the past many months — the young and old, black and white — erupted into grins and tears, all full of hope and each memorable. ¶ “The world will light up,” Jason Garrett, 27, said, his eyes glued to one of many Jumbotrons through which CNN declared the election for Obama only moments before.
WASHINGTON — Barack Obama swept to victory as the nation’s first black president last night in an electoral college landslide that overcame racial barriers as old as America itself. ¶ The son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, the Democratic senator from Illinois sealed his historic triumph by defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in a string of wins in hard-fought battleground states — Ohio, Florida, Virginia and Iowa. ¶ A huge crowd in Grant Park in Obama’s home town of Chicago erupted in jubilation at the news of his victory. Some wept.
Associated Press
Daily Kent Stater
See FIRST | Page A3
See CHICAGO | Page A3
DEMOCRATS ECSTATIC, GOP SOMBER IN COLUMBUS
‘THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ...HAVE SPOKEN CLEARLY’
Supporters of both candidates watched the election from viewing parties in the state capital. See PAGE A2 for our coverage from Columbus and results from other state races.
Arizona Sen. John McCain conceded his race for president from Phoenix. The Daily Kent Stater sent a reporter and photographer to cover the election. Read about what they saw on PAGE A3.
GOVERNOR
U.S. SENATE
Ted Strickland
Sherrod Brown
Democratic candidate Strickland celebrated an early victory, 60-37 percent.
Democratic candidate Brown celebrated a 56-44 percent victory over incumbent DeWine.
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ISSUES Issue 2 Issue 3 Issue 4 Issue 5
Minimum Wage — APPROVED Learn and Earn — FAILED Smoke Less Ohio — FAILED Smoke Free Ohio — APPROVED
2006 ELECTION RESULTS
DAILY KENT STATER
WEDNESDAY
November 8, 2006
HI 58° | LO 45°
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STRICKLAND ELECTED OHIO'S NEW GOVERNOR
‘‘
I believe in the future of Ohio because I believe in the people of Ohio. — Governor-elect Ted Strickland
GAVIN JACKSON | DAILY KENT STATER
Margie Chambers, a member of the UAW from Cleveland, cheers along with more than 600 other visitors to the Cleveland Public Auditorium last night. Brown defeated incumbent Sen. Mike DeWine in the midterm election.
Democrats have big reasons to celebrate Party takes over control of House, gains in Senate David Espo
Associated Press
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MCT
Democratic governor-elect Ted Strickland celebrates his win with his wife, Frances, at the Capitol Square Hyatt in Columbus yesterday. He holds a paper chain with names of volunteers who helped him get elected.
BLACKWELL CONCEDES
Strickland calls for ‘common sense solutions’ Bryan Wroten
Daily Kent Stater
C
Republican candidate Kenneth Blackwell conceded early in the evening, stating: “Ted, you ran a good race and have won a tremendous opportunity to lead the people of this state to better days, a stronger economy and a higher quality of life.”
WASHINGTON — Resurgent Democrats won control of the House and challenged the Republicans’ grip on the Senate in midterm elections early today, riding a powerful wave of public anger over the war in Iraq and scandal at home. “Mr. President, we need a new direction in Iraq,” said California Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi, celebrating her party’s return to power — and her own ascension as first female speaker in history. President Bush monitored the returns from the White House as the voters picked a new Congress certain to complicate his final two years in office. He arranged to call Pelosi this morning, then hold an afternoon news conference. “They have not gone the way he would have liked,” press secretary Tony Snow said of the election returns.
OLUMBUS — Putting his hands up to calm a packed ballroom of supporters, Ted Strickland began his acceptance speech. “I want to begin by thanking every one of you for being here,” he said after the cheering and chanting of his name. With a vote of 60 to 37 percent, Democratic candidate Strickland became Ohio’s new governor. A poll by The Associated Press predicted Strickland to be the winner by 8 p.m. last night. Strickland’s Republican opponent, Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, conceded the election later in the evening. In his concession speech, Blackwell told chanting supporters that he would not “ride into the sunset” after this political setback. “Football coach Vince Lombardi used to tell
people that his team never lost game, but that sometimes the clock ran out on us,” Blackwell said. “Well, tonight the clock ran out on us.” Blackwell urged his supporters to work with the new Democrat-led state government, but also stressed holding onto their core beliefs. “We must have a civil discussion with those who have been our loyal opposition,” ON THE WEB What’s your reaction to the election? he said. The Governor ’s Ball- Tell us your opinion at room of the Hyatt on Capitol StaterOnline.com. Square was standing room only for most of the night. Strickland supporters yelled and clapped every time they saw CNN project a Democratic candidate as a winner in the races. Children in Ted Strickland T-shirts walked around, holding their mothers’ or fathers’ hands.
See GOVERNOR | Page 6
See HOUSE | Page 6
HOUSE CONTROL*
SENATE CONTROL*
180 221 Democrats Republican seats seats
48 49 Democrats Republican seats seats
34 Undecided
3 Undecided
*As of 1:30 a.m.
Brown strips important Senate seat from DeWine Ben Breier
Daily Kent Stater
Campus Dems excited to watch efforts ‘pay off’ Kali Price
Daily Kent Stater “It’s a good day for Democrats,” College Democrats President Kelly Stellrecht said in a phone interview as she watched Rep. Sherrod Brown speak about his win on TV. Stellrecht was only able to express her excitement at the results of the
ONLINE For a look at what election day was like around the county, visit us at StaterOnline.com for an exclusive photo gallery.
in
Ohio senate and governor races. “It’s really exciting to be working hard as a Democrat for so long and for it to pay off,” she said. Stellrecht said Strickland’s and Brown’s campaign promises were key in their victories. “I think voters just wanted a change, and the message of hope that Strickland and Brown gave just made
SHORT
Read students opinions about election results on the issues. Page 6. ■
people feel hope again,” she said. Amy Groya, Undergraduate Student Senate senator for governmental affairs, said she felt other issues — such as education — became more important to voters.
Man says Bibles in pocket stopped bullet JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — A 54-year-old Orange Park man credits two small Bibles in his shirt pocket
Groya added that she felt students had a major impact on the election. “I think a lot of students went out and voted,” she said. “I do think that the way that students voted is the way the election went.” Stellrecht said she thinks Strickland and Brown will bring a change to Ohio.
for saving his life when they stopped a bullet. The man, whose name was withheld, told police that two men who he didn’t recognize ambushed him with a rifle as he carried bags of garbage to a trash bin. The two men fled and have not been arrested.
See STUDENTS | Page 6 Other than a red mark and a pain in his chest, he was not injured, The Florida Times-Union reported yesterday. The man said he was carrying two New Testament Bibles in his shirt pocket to give to friends. Police took the Bibles as evidence.
CLEVELAND — Sherrod Brown received an early birthday present from the state of Ohio last evening. Brown, who will celebrate his 54th birthday on Thursday, was elected to his first term in the U.S. Senate, defeating incumbent two-time Republican Senator Mike DeWine. His victory was one of six necessary pick-ups for the Democratic party in order to gain control of the Senate. Brown defeated DeWine 56 to 44 percent, as of 1:30 a.m. And when Brown arrived at the Cleveland Public Auditorium at 10 p.m., confetti exploded out of a cannon placed on a balcony, raining onto roughly 600 Brown supporters below as they expressed jubilance over his victory.
See BROWN | Page 6
INSIDE 2: Students use ‘bling’ to personalize their cell phones. 4: State should help students with children attend college. 10: KSU wrestling coaches hit the mat.