U.S. election: Obama wins re-election, defeating Romney's fierce challenge

President Barack Obama won re-election Tuesday night despite a fierce challenge from Republican Mitt Romney, prevailing in the face of a weak economy and high unemployment that encumbered his first term and crimped the middle class dreams of millions.
The president sealed his victory in Ohio, Iowa, New Hampshire and Colorado, four of the nine battleground states where the two rivals and their allies spent nearly $1 billion on dueling television commercials.

The president is chosen in a state-by-state tally of electors, not according to the nationwide popular vote, making such “battleground” states — which vote neither Republican nor Democrat on a consistent basis — particularly important in such a tight race.

“This happened because of you. Thank you” Obama tweeted to supporters as he secured four more years in the White House.
Despite widespread voter dissatisfaction with government, Democrats won two more years of control of the Senate and Republicans were on track to do likewise in the House.

Romney was in Massachusetts, his long and gruelling bid for the presidency at an unsuccessful end.
The two rivals were close in the popular vote.
Romney had 45.2 million votes, or 49 per cent. Obama had 45 million, also 49 per cent, with 65 per cent of precincts tallied.