US President Barack Obama swept to re-election Tuesday, creating history again by defying the undertow of a slow economic recovery and high unemployment to beat Republican foe Mitt Romney.
Obama became only the second Democrat to win a second four-year White House term since World War II, when television networks projected he would win the bellwether state of Ohio where he had staged a pitched battle with Romney.
According to CNN projections at 9.30 IST, Obama led Romney 256 electoral votes to 191 electoral votes as suspense-filled results were still awaited in the traditionally swing states of Florida, Ohio and Virginia.
The President surged ahead of his rival only after the results of the crucial state of California, with the largest electoral college of 55 votes, went by his side.
Till 9.30 IST, Obama was trailing behind his Republican rival by at least 10 electoral votes. Early counting in the swing state of Florida showed them running neck and neck, while Obama established an early lead in Ohio.
CNN projected that Pennsylvania with 20 electoral votes would go to Obama, while it predicted that Republicans will keep control of the US House of Representatives.
CNN also projected that the powerful US Senate will still be controlled by the Democrats.
As television networks projected that Obama was on the road to victory once again, his supporters flooded the campaign headquarters in Chicago, the hometown of the President.
Celebrations erupted as Democrats raised slogans and reveled in victory. Though nation-wide polls on the Election Day yesterday showed the two candidates virtually tied, the President was seen holding leads in several of the swing states.