Chicagoans proud of Obama presidency

CHICAGO, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Residents of Chicago appear to be elated at the fact U.S. President-elect Barack Obama calls the Windy City home, novelist Scott Turow says.

The author, also born in Chicago, said since the former U.S. senator for Illinois won the presidential election on Nov. 4, some residents of the Midwestern city have appeared to be in a near state of euphoria over the city's new global prominence, The New York Times said Thursday.

"It seems like there are eight million people walking around here congratulating each other," Turow said. "Chicagoans are unbelievably proud of Barack and feel of course that he's ours, because he is."

Wilco singer and Chicago resident Jeff Tweedy agreed, saying he too has seen a change in the city's citizens.

"I think people really do enjoy the idea that we're living in the center of the world all of the sudden," the rock singer told the Times.

The newspaper said Obama's Election Day victory comes as Chicago is attempting to win the right to host the 2016 Summer Olympics and become home to the tallest U.S. building thanks to a new Trump International Tower.