President-Elect Barack Obama's victory speech

Barack Obama gives his victory speech in Chicago
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama addresses supporters during his election night victory rally at Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois.
STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

An estimated 125,000 people gathered on an unusually warm November night to greet President-elect Barack Obama at a delirious victory rally at Grant Park.

After an improbable journey that started for Obama 21 months ago and drew a record-shattering $700 million to his campaign account alone, Obama scored an Electoral College landslide that redrew America's political map.

His name etched in history as America's first black president-elect, Barack Obama turned Wednesday from the jubilation of victory to the sobering challenge of leading a nation worried about economic crisis, two unfinished wars and global uncertainty.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)