President

The National Journal calculated that Barack Obama spent $7.90 for every vote he received in Ohio, while John McCain spent just $5.80. That's a bargain compared to Nevada, where the candidates spent twice as much on a per capita basis.

The Public Policy Polling blog examines their own polling data and analyzes how the change in voters' issue preferences led to Barack Obama carrying Ohio in the general election.

This week's Winners & Losers. | CLICK HERE

America has chosen its next president. The House and Senate are set (mostly). So now it's time for the Politicker team to get some rest.

Check back here on Monday for all the latest and greatest political news. For now, enjoy our coverage of Election 2008 from the earliest announcements, through the conventions, to the big day.

For the first time in the nation's history, an African-American will serve as president. For the first time since 1964, a Democrat has won more than 51 percent of the vote. But while Barack Obama remade the American electorate to sweep himself into the White House, the Illinois senator still has work to do to bring his party along with him to a lasting majority.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorian) said that history will mark 2006 as the end of a conservative period in American that began around 1980.

"Voters clearly in 2006 said no to that conservative era and marked the closing of that conservative era," Brown said. "What happened in 2006 was voters basically said no to the betrayal of the middle-class, the betrayal of long-held American values, the undermining of American values. They said no to the drug companies writing medicare laws. They said no to the oil industry dictating energy policy. They said no to insurance companies writing healthcare law. They said no to Wall Street pushing through these trade agreements that cost us millions of manufacturing jobs in [Ohio] and across the country."

Brown said that 2008 is the launch of a new progressive era.

"O-H," Gov. Ted Strickland said to the hundreds of people crowded into the Columbus Renaissance Hotel 2nd floor ballroom.

"I-O," they screamed back at him.

Strickland told the crowd of Ohio Democrats that he was proud of his state, following the projections by several news organizations that Barack Obama would win in Ohio.

"What a great night this is," Strickland said, joined on the platform by Ohio Democratic Party chair Chris Redfern, Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, Ohio House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty, state Treasurer Richard Cordray, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher said that Ohio was at the center of the political universe, after several news organizations projected Barack Obama winning the state in his quest for the presidency.

Fisher said that 20 years from now "our children and our grandchildren will read the story about Ohio changing world history."

Fisher said that Ohio voters began changing history by electing Gov. Ted Strickland in 2006. Fisher also said that Democrats had elected a great Attorney General in Richard Cordray.

Cordray told PolitickerOH.com that he was feeling terrific about both his race and about the presidential race.

"I could not be more proud that we have finally -- not since Sherrod Brown -- a wonderful, fair, tough Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner," Fisher said.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Lorian) told the gathering of Democrats at the Columbus Renaissance Hotel that Ohio has given Barack Obama the presidency.

Brown's remarks came after several news organizations projected Obama the winner of Ohio in the 2008 presidential election.

"Ohio is the state that matters and you are the reason that Barack Obama is the next President of the United States," Brown said.

Brown said that on th Senate floor he sits right behind the junior Senator from Illinois, Obama.

Brown said that when he goes back to Washington he's going to go up to Obama and say, "Good afternoon, Mr. President."

COLUMBUS – John McCain’s chief booster in Ohio, Rob Portman reacted to the projected loss of the state to Barack Obama.

“If Senator Obama wins Ohio it will be because of terrific grassroots efforts on both the Obama parts, but particular impressive turnout efforts on the Obama side,” Portman said, adding that he Republican turnout in the state will extraordinarily high.

The former U.S. representative from Cincinnati said the economy’s shape also contributed to the expected Obama win.