Chicago, Nov 7: US First Lady Laura Bush has invited Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia to the White House in the coming weeks to get a feel for their new abode.

Michelle accepted, and a trip will be scheduled soon, the Washington Post reported.

In a telephone conversation on November 5, Laura congratulated Michelle and the two discussed life as a President’s wife, the Obama campaign said. Michelle thanked the First Lady for her offer of help through the transition.

Chicago (US), Nov. 5 : U. S. President-elect Barack Obama promised Tuesday that "change is coming to America" as he gave a victory speech after becoming the first African-American to be elected to the White House.

"It''s been a long time coming. But tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change is coming to America," he said in front of a crowd of 65,000 people.

Obama called on Americans to back a spirit of unity to attack the country''s pressing challenges.

Chicago  - African-Americans wept and hugged as the diverse crowd in Chicago's Grant Park erupted with joy at the news that Barack Obama would be the nation's first black president.

But the roar that went up from the 65,000 people admitted to the official rally quickly subsided into reverence and awe as the Illinois senator began to speak.

The ovations and cheers that punctuated Obama's speech were more in the worship style of an African-American church than a raucous victory rally for the next president of the United States of America.

Chicago - Continued text of US president-elect Barack Obama's victory speech Tuesday night in Chicago, as issued by his campaign.

"What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek ­ it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.

Chicago - Lines had formed by midday outside Chicago's Grant Park, where up to a million people are expected to gather to witness Illinois Senator Barack Obama's post-election rally late Tuesday.

Chicago residents Nick Boten, 37, and Scott Larson, 38, joined the line at around 12:30 pm, eight hours before organizers would let them into the park - and they weren't even near the front of the line, which got longer and longer through the course of the afternoon.

Washington/Chicago - Tens of thousands of US voters waited patiently in serpentine queues Tuesday to vote in the country's historic election. Many had started lining up before dawn, some braved pouring rain to cast their ballot.

Officials were prepared for an unprecedented turnout as voters delivered their verdict on Democrat Barack Obama, 47, and his Republican rival John McCain, 72, after the longest and most expensive campaign in US history.