Press Release
Americans & Tanzanians Watch US Elections Results
November 5, 2008
In order to demonstrate Democracy in America, the U.S. Mission hosted Early Morning Receptions throughout Tanzania in the following cities: Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Mbeya, Mwanza, Tanga and Zanzibar. U.S. Ambassador Mark Green welcomed Tanzanian guests and Americans resident in Dar es Salaam to witness the results of the U.S. national elections. Despite heavy early morning rain, there was several dozen in the audience. Major networks called the election for Senator Barack Obama at approximately 7 a.m. local time. A majority of the guests turned up in time to watch Senator John McCain’s concession speech at the Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, followed by President-elect Obama’s victory speech at Grant Park in Chicago in front of nearly 100,000 Americans. Both candidates called for unity and fortitude as America moves forward. Senator McCain pledged full support for the President-elect. And President-elect Obama underscored that he will be a President for over 300 million Americans.
To those watching overseas, President-elect Obama said, "our destiny is shared. A new dawn of American leadership is at hand. America's beacon still burns bright. The true strength of our nation comes from our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope."
There has been significant interest throughout Tanzania with most newspapers and media outlets devoting daily coverage on the latest news from the U.S. elections over the last several months. The U.S. Mission sent one Tanzanian journalist to participate in the Foreign Press Center's embed program (the Zanzibar Leo editor is in New Hampshire) and Tanzanian Broadcast Corporation (TBC) sent a reporter to the U.S. that has been sending back 30-minute programs following the evening news over the past week.