World watches, assesses results

Many around the world grabbed the news of Obama's win as a sign that the United States was on the verge of a historic turning point, politically and socially.

"My image of America used to be a country run by the white people, but now it's changing," said 65-year-old taxidriver Kenji Doi, an Obama supporter, as he listened to a radio broadcast on the vote early today in Tokyo.

In Kenya, Obama's ancestral homeland, the atmosphere was electric with pride and excitement as people flocked to all-night parties to watch election results roll in.

"I'm not tired even though I have been watching the results through the night," Josiah Otupa, 30, said early today in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

The Irish village of Moneygall was also trying to claim Obama as a favorite son - based on research that concluded the candidate's great-great-great grandfather, Joseph Kearney, lived there before immigrating to the United States.

At Moneygall's Hayes Bar, an American flag fluttered and local band Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys played their rousing folk song "There's No One as Irish as Barack Obama."

"We're not going to go mad with the drink," said Ollie Hayes, who runs the pub. "We just want to show Barack that we appreciate he's from here."

Longtime McCain supporter Kay Angelis described it as "a bit lonely and a bit odd" being a Republican in France. But being in the clear minority at an election night party in Paris swarming with Obama supporters didn't dent her enthusiasm.

"I appreciate experience . . . And I think American voters do, too," the 85-year-old said. She lamented Obama's "whirlwindy" campaign and lack of foreign policy heft and warned that whoever wins will "inherit many global conflicts - and enemies."

French-born US citizen Marielle Davis, however, said an Obama win might prompt her to move back to America. She left Boston in 2003 after two decades for Paris because of tension around the Iraq war.

"People were pointing at me, saying 'She's French,' even my good friends," she said, recalling criticism heaped on France over its opposition to the war.