By By MaryClaire Foster
Emotions are running high throughout the U.S., as history was made in last Tuesday’s general election.
Barack Obama’s defeat of John McCain and subsequent election into the office of president of the United States will mark the first time an African-American has held the position.
Despite the emphasis on race, the fact the election occurred during a time of war and economic turmoil, ensured highly opinionated reactions to the president-elect.
Escambia County, which had 63.92 percent voting for McCain and 35.33 percent voting for Obama, is just like any other part of the nation – strong opinions have emerged about the new president-elect.
Denise Stuart who has voted in every presidential election she has been able to said Obama inspired her and she is thrilled he was elected.
Robert Maxwell, a Republican for 46 years, does not share Stuart’s enthusiasm.
Tommy Thomas said he never thought he would see an African-American man as president in his lifetime, but his race is not why he voted for him either.
Obama’s economic plan is the same reason Cindy Cobb said she did not vote for him.
Cobb added that her view of Obama’s faith was also another factor that caused her not to vote for him
One major issue that affected voters was world relations.
Images of foreign countries celebrating Obama’s win were seen throughout the evening of the election.
Joel Lambert said the betterment of world relations is a main reason he supports Obama.
The barrier Lambert is referring to is the current lack of formal diplomatic relations with certain countries, including Iran.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered his congratulations to Obama, the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution it has been offered from Iran to a U.S. president-elect.
Lambert does have one concern about Obama and that is the president-elect’s safety.
Obama’s safety has been a major concern since he began his candidacy and received secret-service security in May, the earliest it has been given to a candidate.
The plexi-glass surrounding the president-elect at his victory speech was indicative of both the safety concerns and precautions being taken for him.
Regardless of fears or opinions, Obama will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2009.
Rachel Brown, would have preferred her candidate John McCain to be the one being inaugurated on that day but still feels it is her duty as a citizen to support Obama.
Brown’s supportive attitude is one both Lambert and Stewart want to see from people of all political views.
Lambert added, “I hope he has a bipartisan cabinet to prove we can all come together and that both sides do come together and fix the divisions.”