President Barack Obama has been re-elected to a second term in office after months of campaigning, defeating his Republican opponent, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in a close election.
After winning in important swing states like Ohio, Wisconsin and Colorado, the president passed the 270 Electoral College vote mark that would confirm his re-election. Obama also carried Electoral College vote-heavy states like California, New York and Pennsylvania. Obama also surprised the nation by claiming toss-up state Virginia. Florida also leans in the president’s direction, with votes still being tallied as of this morning.
Romney won by a large margin in Tennessee (although Obama carried Davidson County), alongside states like Texas, North Carolina, Georgia and Indiana. 
President Obama also led the popular vote.
In his concession speech, Gov. Romney congratulated the president and wished him well in the years ahead.
“This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation,” Romney said.
Romney also used his final address as a presidential candidate to lament his wishes to the future of the nation.
“The nation, as you know, is at a critical point. At a time like this, we can’t risk partisan bickering and political posturing,” Romney said. “Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people’s work. And we citizens also have to rise to the occasion.”
In his acceptance speech, President Obama thanked his supporters for their efforts that secured his re-election. He also congratulated Romney and his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan on a “hard-fought campaign,” commenting on the Romney family’s history of public service.
“Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come,” Obama said.
The president said he believes that through perseverance and hope, the nation will be able to see a brighter day ahead.
“I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting,” Obama said.
The Lipscomb community had the election on its mind as classes began on Wednesday. Despite Obama’s victory, the Bison in the square still had a pro-Romney design during the morning hours of the day.
Professor of Politics Dr. Dwight Tays said he believes the election showed the country’s overall approval of the president.
“It was a reflection of democracy at work, and the people have spoken. They have a confidence in the president to continue to make improvements,” Dr. Tays said. “The majority of the people in America believe that the country is on the right track, and it’s an affirmation of President Obama.”
Sophomore Jesse Travis found the results to be closer than predicted.
“I was actually kind of surprised by the outcome. I expected it to be a lot closer, but I think once Obama took Ohio that it was pretty much over from there,” Travis said. “He took a huge lead in the electoral votes, and it was kind of game over for Romney.”
Junior Martin Baker, an Obama voter, was pleased with the results.
“I was happy with them. It turned out the way I hoped for, so I’m pretty excited about it,” Baker said.
Junior Rainey Langford found a humorous angle to focus on during election night.
“Honestly, the main thing I watched more than the election was people’s reactions on social media,” Langford said.
“It was hilarious because there were people on one side that were so happy that Obama won and the other side who think that our country is doomed,” Langford said. “I just watched the whole thing on Twitter and Facebook, and I was just sitting there going, ‘we’re going to be fine.’ Everyone’s freaking out and stuff, and, I don’t know, it was just funny.”
Junior Mary Beth Adams was also surprised by the outcome but finds good in the results.
“I, personally, was very, very surprised by it. I really thought America was done with Obama. So, I was very surprised that Obama got elected, just from the frustration we heard,” Adams said. “There was a little hope for me because I think that it’s kind of cool that America still has faith in someone and can give someone a second chance. So, I’m interested to see how these four years go.”
Quotes from Gov. Romney and President Obama and electoral college map were obtained from Washington Post. Headline photo courtesy of CNN. Bison photo taken by Cory Woodroof.