President Barack Obama has been re-elected for a second term as president of the United States, beating his rival, Republican Mitt Romney.
Polls predicted a very tight race, but Mr Obama managed to secure the required 270 electoral college votes - and more - before the clock struck midnight on the east coast.
Mr Obama has one big thing going for him: voters seem to like him personally, and many remain loyal to him even while frustrated by the nation's lingering hangover from the recession.
His campaign team appears to have enticed many of his 2008 supporters back to the polls, while also persuading undecided voters that Mr Romney was not the man they wanted to lead the country.