U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle are showered with confetti after President Obama gave his acceptance speech during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama and his family walk onstage during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama supporters cheer while watching the returns prior to his election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama walks out with his family to address supporters during his election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
Attendees celebrate during U.S. President Barack Obama's election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama, who won a second term in office by defeating Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, smiles before addressing supporters during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama supporters cheer at election victory night rally in ChicagoReuters 
People celebrate as they watch election results broadcast confirming the re-election of President Barack Obama in New YorkReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama applauds after his election night victory speech in ChicagoReuters 
Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama celebrate the news of his victory in the 2012 presidential election outside the White House in WashingtonReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama walks out with his family to address supporters during his election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
Villagers celebrate the victory of Barack Obama in the U.S. presidential elections in Obama's ancestral home village of Nyangoma KogeloReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama, who won a second term in office by defeating Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, waves before addressing supporters during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama celebrate the news of his victory in the 2012 presidential election outside the White House in WashingtonReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama walks out with his family to address supporters during his election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama celebrate the news of his victory in the presidential election outside the White House in WashingtonReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama waves to the crowd with his family during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
Supporters of U.S. President Barack Obama celebrate the news of his victory in the presidential election outside the White House in WashingtonReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama gives his election night victory rally speech in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama supporters cheer and wave flags at election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama walks out with his family to address supporters during his election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama supporters cheer and wave flags at election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama gives his election night victory rally speech in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama addresses supporters during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama's supporters celebrate after Obama won the U.S. presidential election in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama addresses supporters after winning the U.S. presidential election in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama is applauded by his family after his election night victory speech in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama waves as he addresses supporters during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama waves as he addresses supporters during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama points to Vice President Joe Biden on stage with first lady Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha during his election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama talks to Vice President Joe Biden after his election night victory speech in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama stands with his wife Michelle and Vice President Biden and his wife Jill as they face supporters following his acceptance speed during his election night victory rally in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama acknowledges someone in the crowd after his election night victory speech in ChicagoReuters 
Barrack and Michelle ObamaReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama stands with his family after addressing supporters during his election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
Confetti obscures the stage as U.S. President Barack Obama celebrates after winning the U.S. presidential election in ChicagoReuters 
Michelle ObamaReuters 
People celebrate as they watch U.S. President Barack Obama's acceptance speech broadcast live in Times Square following his re-election in New YorkReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama celebrates with his wife Michelle, his Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill after winning the U.S. presidential election in ChicagoReuters 
Supporters cheer as U.S. President Barack Obama departs from the podium after giving his victory speech during his election night rally in ChicagoReuters 
First lady Michelle Obama embraces Dr. Jill Biden after U.S. President Barack Obamas victory speech in ChicagoReuters 
First lady Michelle Obama gives thumbs up to crowd before President Barack Obamas victory speech in ChicagoReuters 
People celebrate as they watch U.S. President Barack Obama's acceptance speech broadcast live in Times Square following his re-election in New YorkReuters 
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden greets the crowd after the President's victory speech in ChicagoReuters 
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to supporters following his re-election during his election night rally in ChicagoReuters
It's celebration time for Barack Obama supporters as he is set for a second term as the president of the United States after being re-elected on Tuesday by defeating Republican rival Mitt Romney in a tight fight.
Opinion polls suggested a neck-and-neck race for the White House but Obama won 303 electoral votes on Election Day as against Romney's 206 before all the states were counted. Democrats retained control of the Senate but the Republicans have cemented their majority in the House of Representatives.
Celebrations kicked off once Obama crossed the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
[PICTURES OF BARACK OBAMA'S VICTORY CELEBRATIONS]
Obama celebrated the victory with his family - wife Michelle and daughters Malia and Sasha - and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill amid jubilant supporters.
He delivered victory speech to the nation on Wednesday after being assured that he would be the president of the United States for the second term.
Read an extract of Obama's victory speech:
"Tonight, more than 200 years after a former colony won the right to determine its own destiny, the task of perfecting our union moves forward. It moves forward because of you. It moves forward because you reaffirmed the spirit that has triumphed over war and depression, the spirit that has lifted this country from the depths of despair to the great heights of hope, the belief that while each of us will pursue our own individual dreams, we are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation and as one people.
"Tonight, in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back, and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come.
"I want to thank every American who participated in this election ... whether you voted for the very first time or waited in line for a very long time," he said. (Click here for full transscript of Obama's speech)
