Federal government frontbencher Anthony Albanese and the
Australian Labor Party are among the first local politicians to
congratulate Barack Obama on his re-election as US president.
Mr Albanese tweeted just moments after the US networks began to
call the election for Mr Obama around 3.15pm AEDT.
"Congratulations to President Obama! :) #4moreyears," he wrote.
The ALP's official account followed Mr Albanese's lead a few
minutes later.  "Congratulations to President Obama and our
sister party the Democrats on their #Election2012 win! Our staff
are happy!"  Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who travelled to
the US to observe the election as part of a political exchange,
was at an election party at the University of South Florida.
She said the "crowd going wild" as it watched the result come
in.  "Obama's won. Fire up!" she tweeted, referencing Mr Obama's
trademark slogan, "Fired up, ready to go."  Labor senator Lisa
Singh said she was ecstatic at the news.  "Second term for
#Obama is great news for the US a