At campaign's end, Obama congratulates Romney

US President Barack Obama calls a volunteer from a campaign office in Chicago, Illinois, on election day, November 6, 2012. / Jewel Samad AFP/Getty Images

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Obama congratulates Romney on campaign

During a surprise campaign stop at a field office in Chicago, President Obama congratulated Mitt Romney on a hard-fought campaign.

The president's congratulatory comment was not meant to be a premature concession. He said he's confident about the results. "I'm looking forward to the results. And I expect that we'll have a good night," he said.

Mr. Obama encouraged all voters to head to the polls: "I would encourage everybody on all sides just to make sure that you exercise this precious right that you have that people fought so hard for, for us to have."

• What to watch for as the presidential results come in
• Complete coverage: Election Day

The president's remarks came after he made several calls to campaign volunteers working until the last minute to reelect him.

"Hi is this Annie? This is Barack Obama," he said to the person on the other end of the line in Wisconsin."This is Barack Obama. You know, the president?"

"She was very nice to me even though she initially didn't know who I was," Mr. Obama said when the call ended.

He used a cell phone to make several calls to thank volunteers working in Wisconsin for their help. "With all the work you guys are doing I'm sure were going to win Wisconsin," he said to one caller.

Meantime, Romney is in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, ostensibly to visit some of his campaign's volunteers and both candidates are conducting a round of interviews with battleground state media.

[nawnie]

CBS was sure on the election but never covered the Benghazi mess. They should be boycotted...

[angelosdaughter]

It's been a terrible ugly campaign. Thank Heaven it's over. I hope that finally concensus and compromise will rule the day, that, and patience. No one can wave a magic wand and make it all better. It is going to take COOPERATION. I hope that happens.
It's time for all of us to pray that our country can move forward.
And for the President and Mrs. Obama(although it may not be possible for him), and Mr. and Mrs. Romney, I would recommend a week of just kicking back and decompressing. They must all be so exhausted.

[Verascity]

No congratulatory phone call from Romney to Obama. No concession speech from Romney. Can you cay "poor sport" boys and girls?

He only wrote a victory speech. Now that's hubris!

[logical_pers]

Seems the "poor sport" is giving his very pleasant concession speech right now. Are you happy now, boys and girls?

[binjavasquez]

The news anchorwoman who is speaking tonight about the election keeps referring to "african-american" voters as "blacks". You would think with her education, she would know better. These racist people shouldn't be in front of a camera. Shame on CBS for not catching it and putting a stop to it. We are all different in race but should never be referred to as color.

[logical_pers]

Oh my Lord, do we have to put up with this BS until the end of time? "Blacks" is a description of a group of people, just like the reference to "whites" is a description of white people. We don't insist on being called "Caucasian-Americans" because "white" is just too racist. I have a very good black girlfriend whom I asked about this and she said she didn't know who started it either.

[Imachedel]

One is hardly a more ignorant title than the other, only one is more acceptable for some reason.

[binjavasquez]

The news anchorwoman who is speaking tonight about the election keeps referring to "african-american" voters as "blacks". You would think with her education, she would know better. These racist people shouldn't be in front of a camera. Shame on CBS for not catching it and putting a stop to it. We are all different in race but should never be referred to as color.

[Necroscope84]

Please stop with the name calling and rudeness. This isn't a game and is part of the problem. The GOP has gone too far to the right and the Tea Party is just one part of the problem.

Republicans and conservatives have some great ideas that could help us. I think deep down they really like Obamacare. They tried to pass that for years before obama came along. We need to get rid of the people who won't reach out. It's not Obama's fault, it's the people on BOTH sides who view each other as enemies instead of opponents. Sometimes we just have to agree to disagree. No reason to throw hate into it. 2 wrongs never equal a right and HATE IS THE PROBLEM above all else.

I applaude everyone who went out and voted today and who voted early. Even if I don't agree with your choice I still salute you. It is our right and privilege. We need to work together each and everyone of us and do what's right for the American People. Starting with each other. Thank you everyone for voting. I don't think Mitt Romney is horrible or bad to tell the truth. In fact I believe if the Right had let him just be himself he would have done much better. There's a lesson to be learned here. Take care all and goodnight.

[itstoosad]

I agree with you and want to thank you for giving a balanced and respectful comment. I think both sides have good points as well and the only way this country is going to be fixed is if both sides start working together.

[texas1993]

Totally agree with you. I found this quote from Gov Romney's concession speech: "The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this, we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people's work. And we look to Democrats and Republicans in government at all levels to put the people before the politics."

[Ruthieruth13]

What concerns me is the context with which this headline is framed. The polls have not closed, and the headline is misleading. True, the first sentence is the correct statement that Obama congratulated Romney on a well fought campaign, and was in no way a concession. It might have been better put to state that "Campaign well fought" states President. I do not appreciate the bias in the news reporting. Particularly since the election appears to be too close to call and the polls are still open. Yet, this is what happens, when our education system is dumbed down, and the press is no longer truly free.

[SummerRichards14]

lol... wow! I think you are reading into it entirely way too much! "Congrats on a campaign", is misleading? Hmmm...

[logical_pers]

Remember who you're dealing with.

[Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals]

RepubliCon_Liar_RobMe replies:
LMAO!..... HILLZHAVEAYS, you really are an ignorant Republ-minion.


HILLZHAVEAYS says:
Guess why you're the only one posting this drivel?


--------------

Robme/Shallow is the biggest spammer on these boards.

Loves to post entire books, and doesn't have the brains for an original post.

.

[RH_]

PRESIDENTIAL CREDENTIALS ???

Who has...

- A Harvard MBA
(Masters degree in Business Administration)

- Experience in Big Business.

- Experience Leading a Major Sports Organization.

- Experience as Governor of a Major State.


Mitt Romney?
Yes... BUT ALSO...
George W. Bush!
...and how did THAT choice turn out???


Check out this really in-your-face data -- from the White House -- showing the actual month-by-month count of non-government ("private sector") job losses and job gains over the last several years.

http://my.democrats.org/Jobs-Chart

In spite of all the Republican talk of how Obama is bad for the economy, and a tax-and-spend liberal, only taxpayer-funded GOVERNMENT jobs are declining severely -- while the "FREE ENTERPRISE" sector is GROWING under Obama. Something sobering and quite enlightening to share with everyone, at this time of endless debate and posturing over the jobs issue. Data beats drivel.

Don't vote for a return to the party that got us INTO this awful mess.

Vote for the party that's (slowly, but surely) getting us OUT of it.


~RH

[logical_pers]

I pray that you are right as we have no choice now.

[abbe91]

If Romney wins, democrats have to learn about one word : filibuster
40+ seats in Senate are enough to block anything Romney wants to try (might be needed since we didn't get any specifics about his policy) and to make him another "one-term" president like he was a "one-term" governor.

But since Romney will not win, except with a major help from his voting machines in Ohio ...