In the Headlines

"Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls" (Adam Nagourney, New York Times) - Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease as the country chose him as its first black chief executive.

"As Economic Crisis Peaked, Tide Turned Against McCain" (Monica Langley, Wall Street Journal) - On Sept. 24, with financial markets verging on panic and the economy thudding, Democratic Sen. Barack Obama placed a call to rival John McCain. He wanted to suggest they issue a joint statement on proposed financial-bailout legislation. As hours went by without a return call, Obama aides emailed each other, asking, "Have you heard anything?" One answered: "The McCain camp is cooking up something."

"New era beginning for party in power" (Susan Milligan, Boston Globe) - Democrats increased their ranks in Congress last night, picking up seats from the Canadian to the Mexican borders and ushering in a new era of Democratic power in Washington the party has not seen since the 1960s.

"Few voting problems seen amid big turnout" (Andrew Zajac and John Crewdson, Chicago Tribune) - Balloting in Tuesday's election was marked by long lines from record turnouts and voting equipment glitches but appeared free of significant claims of fraud or other chicanery that marred closely contested presidential elections in 2000 and 2004.