Barack Obama: U.S. president-elect

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Barack Obama, with projected wins in West Coast states, became the first African-American president-elect of the United States Tuesday.

Obama defeated Republican opponent Sen. John McCain of Arizona in the historic election to become the 44th president of the United States.

Cheers and shouts of "Yes we can!" erupted at a packed Grant Park in Chicago, where Obama was holding his election night rally.

CNN listed the projected electoral vote as 297 for Obama and 197 for McCain, with 44 electoral votes yet to be determined. A candidate needs 270 to win the election.