Obama defeats Romney for 2d term

President Obama overcame a formidable challenge by former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

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President Obama, appearing in Chicago with his family, declared that “the best is yet to come” for the nation.

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Obama, who needed 270 electoral votes to be elected, was declared the winner by TV networks around 11:15 p.m.

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Mitt Romney conceded during a speech in Boston.

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Romney and his wife, Ann, waved to somber backers early Wednesday.

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Elizabeth Warren hugged her husband, Bruce Mann, after her victory speech.

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Scott Brown gave a concession speech.

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Winner of the 4th Congressional District, Joseph Kennedy III acknowledged applause during his rally at the Newton Marriott.

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Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District Sean Bielat gave his concession speech.

Bernie Starr, left, joined his partner Richard Tisei in Peabody.

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Bernie Starr, left, joined his partner Richard Tisei, who challenged John F. Tierney in the Mass. 6th Congressional District, in Peabody.

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Supporters gathered around a television at John F. Tierney's election-night event in Salem. Tierney narrowly won reelection.

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Cean Orrett (center) and Gareth Edmondson-Jones reacted to positive predictions for President Obama in Times Square.

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After a long campaign, Romney supporters watched the election results at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.

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Romney supporters were somber in Boston.

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Romney supporters watched results at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

Romney supporters rested on the floor at the entrance to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

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Romney supporter rested on the floor at the entrance to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.

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Supporters of President Obama cheered while watching the returns at his election night rally in Chicago.

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Travis Beatty used a flashlight to look at a sample ballot as he waited with other voters in line near Birmingham, Ala.

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Arizona Democrats in Tucson celebrated as Barack Obama was declared the winner of the presidential race.

Ajay Narayan cheered as the race is called for Barack Obama at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

Sam Morris/Las Vegas Sun/Reuters

Ajay Narayan cheered as the race was called for President Obama at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.

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Supporters of President Obama celebrated as they watched election results in Harlem.

News Analysis

Economy kept Obama afloat, blocked Romney win

In the end, the rising economy secured President Obama a second term.

Elizabeth Warren defeats Scott Brown

Warren, a fierce consumer advocate who galvanized liberals across the nation, won a decisive victory over Brown.

Rep. Tierney hangs on to win Sixth District

Rep. John Tierney held to win a ninth term, beating Republican Richard Tisei by the narrowest margin since his first victory.

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Election results

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Globe Insiders

Nov. 14, 6 p.m.

Patriots Film Session with Greg Bedard and Jermaine Wiggins

Join the Globe’s Greg Bedard and former Patriots tight end Jermaine Wiggins for an exclusive look into how they break down the Patriots’ film each week.

Globe exclusives

It’s tailgate time. ’Cue the veggies

Steak tips are one of several varieties of tips on the menu at the Tip Tap Room.

Beacon Hill restaurant the Tip Tap Room takes its name seriously

“Perfect Couples’’ is part of Allan McCollum’s “The Shapes Project.’’

Galleries

Twos of a kind, frayed knots, and double takes

Laura Weinstein, the engineer-marathoner behind Cookie Lady Treats, makes a thousand of them in a week.

This jobless engineer became ‘Cookie Lady’

Mr. Carter was already in his 80s when he took on his most expansive work, “Symphonia.”

Elliot Carter, 103; top US composer, prolific to the end

Boston Capital

The economic limits for our next president

From left: Steven Tyler, Joey Kramer, Joe Perry, and Tom Hamilton show off their commemorative street signs before Monday’s concert.

Names

Aerosmith rocks the old neighborhood

Sherry Pagoto, associate professor of medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, at her standing/walking desk.

G Cover

Anti-sitting movement gaining followers

“Bruce,” a new biography, looks at Bruce Springsteen, the enduring rocker and charismatic leader of the E Street Band.

Book Review

‘Bruce’ by Peter Ames Carlin

Album Review | HIP-HOP

Public Enemy still hitting targets on ‘Evil Empire’

“Lightning Dreams” documents Alan Gibbs’s passion for harnessing power as he commissions the world’s largest Tesla coil for his estate in New Zealand.

Art and science collide in ‘Lightning Dreams’

Special Section

The Senate race in Mass.

Sports

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With John Farrell (left) hired as manager, GM Ben Cherington is looking out for some good deals.

Confidence in Ben Cherington remains high

His first season was a disaster. But Red Sox officials and his colleagues are insistent that Cherington is the right man to rebuild the team.

Metro

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Joseph P. Kennedy III with mother Sheila Rauch (left) and fiancee Lauren Birchfield at Tuesday’s rally.

Kennedy wins in the 4th, returning the family to power

Joseph P. Kennedy III won a decisive victory over Republican Sean Bielat in the race to fill the open congressional seat left vacant by the retirement of Barney Frank.