BARACK Obama has made history by becoming the first black president of the United States after winning a resounding election victory.

Speaking to thousands of his supporters in Chicago he said: "Because of what you did on this day, change is coming to America."

He paid tribute to John McCain, praising his "selfless" service to his country, and spoke of the "enormous task" that lay ahead.

Mr Obama struck a devastating blow to Mr McCain by taking the key battlegrounds of Pennsylvania and Ohio.

By 4am, Mr Obama had secured the 270 electoral college votes he needed to defeat Mr McCain, who conceded the election a short time later.

Speaking in Phoenix, he told Republican supporters he had "come to the end of a long journey" and congratulated Mr Obama.

"I recognise the special significance this has for African-Americans," he said.

"Senator Obama has achieved a great deal for himself and for his country.

"It is a great shame his grandmother did not live to see it."

Mr McCain also asked his supporters to now join together behind Mr Obama for the good of the country.

"We fought, and although we fell short, the failure was mine, not yours," he added.

Many states reported "unprecedented turnouts" in what has proved an historic election.

A record high turnout of 130 million people were expected to vote.

Earlier, Mr Obama, the 47-year-old Illinois senator, was accompanied by his wife Michelle and their two young daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, seven.

In his final rally in Virginia, which has not voted for a Democratic presidential nominee in 44 years, he told almost 100,000 people: "I'm feeling kind of fired up. I'm feeling like I'm ready to go.

"At this defining moment in history, Virginia, you can give this country the change it needs."