Romney concedes defeat

US: Republican challenger Mitt Romney conceded defeat in the US election early Wednesday, telling supporters that he had called President Barack Obama to congratulate him on his victory.

“His supporters and his campaign also deserve congratulations,” he said, in a brief address at his election watch party in Boston.

“I wish all of them well but particularly the President, the First Lady and their daughters.” Romney returned to a theme that he began injecting into his stump speeches in the closing two weeks of the campaign: the need for greater bipartisanship in Washington.

“At a time like this, we can't risk partisan bickering and posturing,” he said.

“Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people's work and we citizens have to rise to the occasion.” Romney also thanked his wife Ann, his tireless surrogate on the campaign trail whom he called “the love of my life.” “She would have been a wonderful First Lady,” he mused, to loud applause.

Earlier in the day, when asked by reporters on his campaign plane whether he had two speeches ready to go for Tuesday night, he said he was confident of defeating Obama and had penned an 1,118-word victory speech.

AFP