Excerpts from the statement made by White House chief of staff Mr Andrew Card in a speech to Republican supporters in Washington DC:
"We are convinced that President Bush has won re-election with at least 286 electoral college votes. He also had a margin of 3.5 million popular votes.
"President Bush's decisive margin of victory makes this the first presidential elections since 1988 in which the winner received the majority of the popular vote.
"In this election, President Bush received more votes than any presidential candidate in our nation's history.
"Republicans also scored other great victories in this election. We scored victories adding to our majorities in the House and the Senate.
"In Ohio, President Bush has a lead of at least 140,000 votes. The Secretary of State of Ohio has informed us that this amount is statistically insurmountable even after provisional ballots are considered. So President Bush has won the state of Ohio.
"President Bush has decided to give Senator Kerry the respect of more time to reflect on the results of this election.
"President Bush will give a statement later today."
