November 4, 2008 Kerry: "Tonight we enter a new America" Play video

(NECN: Boston, MA) - John Kerry has been re-elected to his fifth term in the U.S. Senate. Kerry cruised to a fifth term over Republican Jeff Beatty, a former CIA official and Army Delta Force member from Harwich. The victory came four years after Kerry failed in his own bid for the presidency, a race noteworthy for the prime-time speaking role he gave to Obama at the convention in Boston when Obama was Illinois state senator yet to even take his place in Congress.

Much of Kerry's victory speech was about Senator Obama. Speaking to democratic supporters, and optimistic about an Obama win, he said:

"Tonight there will be tears of joy and of disbelief, in small rural communities and in inner cities where some people for too long believed they didn't have possibilities for a future. Tonight new dreams are born and old truths are reaffirmed. Tonight we enter a new america. The best America. The America of our highest hopes."

Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement tonight congratulating Senator John F. Kerry on winning his re-election campaign:

"It's a great night for the nation, and a great night for Massachusetts too. I'm delighted that the people of the Commonwealth have given my friend and colleague John Kerry such a resounding re-election victory, and I look forward very much to serving with him in the years ahead."

Material from the Associated Press is included in this report.