WASHINGTON (AP) — His name etched in history as America’s first black president-elect, Barack Obama turned Wednesday from victory’s jubilation to the sobering challenge of leading a nation in crisis. The 44th president-in-waiting kept a low profile while Americans and the world took in the enormity of the election.

‘‘The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep,’’ Obama told a victory rally of 125,000 people jammed into Chicago’s Grant Park.

Young and charismatic but with little experience on the national level or as an executive, Obama easily defeated Republican John McCain, smashing records and remaking history along the way.

Ending an improbable journey that started for Obama a long 21 months ago, he drew a record-shattering $700 million to his campaign account alone. The first African-American destined to sit in the Oval Office, he also was the first Democrat to receive more than 50 percent of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter in 1976. He is the first senator elected to the White House since John F. Kennedy in 1960.

And Obama scored an Electoral College landslide that redrew America’s political dynamics. He won states that reliably voted Republican in presidential elections, such as Indiana and Virginia, which hadn’t supported a Democratic candidate in 44 years. Ohio and Florida, key to President Bush’s twin victories, also went for Obama, as did Pennsylvania, which McCain had deemed crucial for his election hopes.

With most U.S. precincts tallied, the popular vote was 52.3 percent for Obama and 46.4 percent for McCain. But the count in the Electoral College was much more lopsided — 349 to 147 in Obama’s favor as of early Wednesday, with three states still to be decided. Those were North Carolina, Georgia and Missouri.

When Obama and running mate Joe Biden take their oath of office on Jan. 20, Democrats will control both the White House and Congress for the first time since 1994, and with expanded majorities in both the House and the Senate.

With just 76 days until the inauguration, Obama is expected to move quickly to begin assembling a White House staff and selecting Cabinet nominees. Campaign officials said Illinois Rep. Rahm Emanuel was the front-runner to be Obama’s chief of staff. The advisers spoke on a condition of anonymity because the announcement had not yet been made.

With these moves and many others to come upon him quickly, Obama planned a everyman day-after in his hometown of Chicago. The president-elect had little on his schedule besides taking his two young daughters to school, a simple pleasure he’s missed during nearly two years of virtually nonstop travel, and then a workout.

Naming the staggering list of problems he inherits — two wars and ‘‘the worst financial crisis in a century,’’ among them — Obama sought to restrain the soaring expectations of his supporters.
‘‘We may not get there in one year or even in one term,’’ he said. ‘‘But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there.’’

A tide of international goodwill came Obama’s way on Wednesday morning, even as developments made clear how heavy a weight will soon be on his shoulders.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a congratulatory telegram saying there is ‘‘solid positive potential’’ for the election to improve strained relations between Washington and Moscow, if Obama engages in constructive dialogue.

Yet he appeared to be deliberately provocative hours after the election with sharp criticism of the U.S. and his announcement that Russia will deploy missiles near NATO member Poland in response to U.S. missile defense plans.

In Afghanistan, where villagers said the U.S. bombed a wedding party and killed 37 people, President Hamid Karzai said: ‘‘This is my first demand of the new president of the United States — to put an end to civilian casualties.’’

In the Middle East, Hamas militants pounded southern Israel with rockets.

From the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI sent Obama a personal note delivering his prayers for God’s blessing on him.

The nation awakened to the new reality at daybreak, a short night after millions witnessed Obama’s election — an event so rare it could not be called a once-in-a-century happening. Prominent black leaders wept unabashedly in public, rejoicing in the elevation of one of their own, at long last..........