Obama’s sweeping victory was widely seen as a repudiation of the Bush administration’s policies, particularly on the economy. But at the White House, President Bush tried to put a positive spin on the vote, congratulating Obama and vowing a smooth transition.

President Bush: “They chose a president whose journey represents a triumph of the American story: a testament to hard work, optimism and faith in the enduring promise of our nation. Many of our citizens thought they would never live to see that day. This moment is especially uplifting for a generation of Americans who witnessed the struggle for civil rights with their own eyes and four decades later see a dream fulfilled.”

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise appearance at the daily State Department media briefing. Rice said she was proud of the vote as an African American.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: “I’m getting ready to leave for the Middle East, but I did not want this morning to pass without taking note of the extraordinary election last night. This was an exercise in American democracy of which Americans across the political spectrum are justifiably proud…And I just want to close on a personal note. As an African American, I’m especially proud, because this is a country that’s been through a long journey, in terms of overcoming wounds and making race not the factor in our lives. That work is not done, but yesterday was obviously an extraordinary step forward.”