President-elect Barack Obama can “count on complete cooperation” after his “impressive victory” as he prepares to take over at the White House, President George Bush said today.
Mr Bush said Mr Obama's "journey represents a triumph of the American story".
"The long campaign is now ended and we move forward as one nation," Mr Bush said.
Mr Bush invited Mr Obama and his family to the White House at their convenience.
He called Mr Obama last night to congratulate him, spokeswoman Dana Perino said. He also called Mr McCain, telling him, "you gave it your all,'' she said. The inauguration is set for January 20th.
The Bush administration has set aside 120,000 square feet of office space in downtown Washington to accommodate Mr Obama's transition staff for the next two months before the new president moves into the White House.
Condoleezza Rice, the African American US Secretary of State, said she was "especially thrilled", on a personal level, that the country now had its first black president elect.
"This is a country that's been through a long journey," she said.
Ms Rice hailed Mr Obama as "inspirational" and said his victory was an "extraordinary step forward".
She also pledged that the State Department would make sure there was a smooth transition to the next administration.
Agencies