Morning Buzz: Barack Obama Is the Next President of the United States

In a sweeping victory, Democrat Senator Barack Obama, 47, made history last night by winning the office of President of the United States over Republican candidate Senator John McCain. Obama is the nation's first African-American to win the White House. CNN reports that tallies from early this morning indicate that Obama received 62.4 million votes to McCain's 55.4. Obama, to a reported crowd of 240,000 at a rally in Chicago's Grant Park that included a teary Oprah Winfrey and Rev. Jesse Jackson, told the country that "change has come" in his victory speech. "The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America -- I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you -- we as a people will get there," he said. Obama will be the 44th president of the United States and his swearing in ceremony will be held on Jan.20.

CNN reports that Senator John McCain conceded to President Elect Barack Obama in a speech in Phoenix, Arizona yesterday. "We have come to an end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly," McCain said. McCain pledged to work with Obama in the months ahead. When the senator mentioned that he had spoken to Obama to congratulate him, booes were heard throughout McCain headquarters.

TMZ reports that actor Tim Robbins was the center of a fracas at his NYC polling place during Election Day yesterday. Police had to be called when Robbins reportedly "got loud" with a volunteer upon discovering his name wasn't on the voting registration books. Robbins, who claimed that he had been using the same polling place for a decade, refused to fill out a provisional ballot and accused the worker of trying to intimidate him into not voting. Police directed Robbins to the City Board of Elections to retrieve proof of voting eligibility.

The Los Angeles Times reports that Oprah Winfrey, President Elect Barack Obama's most visible celebrity supporter, reportedly told a radio show host yesterday that she already has her gown picked out for Barack Obama's inauguration. Winfrey spoke to Chicago Power 105.1 radio host Ed Lover on the air yesterday to discuss her belief that Obama would win. "I believed from the beginning he was the one," she said.

E! reports that Courteney Cox Arquette and husband David Arquette hosted an Obama victory celebration at their Los Angeles home last night that included guests Jennifer Aniston, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Isla Fisher. David reportedly poured champagne for paparazzi outside after Obama's victory was announced. In other celeb news, Brad Pitt (although not visible in any of the national TV coverage) was reportedly on hand in Chicago to celebrate the historic victory. "I congratulate President-elect Obama on his historic victory, and now it's time to begin unifying the country so we can take on the extraordinary challenges that this generation faces," George Clooney said in a statement.