CNSNews.com: "We are convinced that President Bush has won reelection with at least 286 electoral college votes," White House Chief of Staff Andy Card announced at 5:40 a.m. EST Wednesday.

Addressing a crowd of Republicans still waiting at a Bush victory party in downtown Washington, Card also noted that President Bush has a margin of 3-and-a-half million popular votes.

"President Bush's decisive margin of victory makes this the first presidential election since 1988 in which the winner received the majority of the popular vote. And in this election, President Bush received more votes than any presidential candidate in our country's history," Card said to cheers.

He noted that Republicans also won "other great victories" on Tuesday, adding to their majorities in the House and the Senate.

In Ohio, Card said, President Bush has a lead of at least 140,000 votes. "The Secretary of State's Office has informed us that this margin is statistically insurmountable, even after the provisional ballots are considered. So President Bush has won the State of Ohio!"

Card said President Bush also has been declared the winner in Nevada, and he said the Bush campaign puts Iowa and New Mexico in Bush's column as well.

"This all adds up to a convincing Electoral College victory as well as a strong endorsement of President Bush by his fellow Americans in the popular vote."

Card said President Bush would make a statement later Wednesday - "to give Senator Kerry the respect of more time to reflect on the results of this election," Card said.

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