Democrat Bill Clinton decisively won the presidential election, including the race in Arizona, last night over Republican challenger Bob Dole.

Clinton's victory in Arizona marks the first time a Democrat has won the traditionally Republican state since Harry Truman did so 48 years ago in 1948.

With 87 percent of precincts reporting nationwide, Clinton held 377 electoral votes and 49 percent of the popular vote. Dole had 145 electoral votes and 41 percent of the popular vote. Reform Party candidate Ross Perot had 8 percent of the popular vote but earned no electoral votes.

In Arizona, with 93 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton had 47 percent of the vote, and Dole had 44. Perot won 8 percent, and Libertarian Harry Browne had 1 percent.

The reaction from the Tucson Republicans' victory party at the Doubletree Hotel was bittersweet.

Jeff McCuen, chairman of the University of Arizona's College Republicans, said although he was not surprised Clinton won the election, the depth of the president's victory caught him off guard.

"With the presidential campaign, I was a little surprised," McCuen said. "I thought Dole had more of a chance."

Caron Spector, vice president of the UA Young Democrats, was upbeat at the Tucson Democrats' victory party at the Viscount Suites Hotel after hearing the official news that Clinton had enough electoral votes for re-election.

"I think that the Democratic vision is the way of the future. I'm glad that I could have been a part of this election," Spector said.

Spector said she still respects Dole and all that he has accomplished.

"He achieved as much as he could in his lifetime. I respect him as a person, I just think that his time has past," she said.

Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz., who won his bid for re-election, said Clinton was re-elected because he has taken credit for the success of popular Republican programs.

"Bill Clinton has adopted the Republican agenda and the Republican agenda has won," Kolbe said last night.

Clinton won big among moderates and independents in Arizona, according to a Voter News Service exit poll. Self-described moderates and independents, representing 45 percent of the total vote, went for Clinton over Dole by a 2-to-1 margin. Dole was supported by 73 percent of conservatives and the same percentage of liberals went for Clinton.

Democrats also speculated that people who typically vote Republican came to the polls and cast their ballots for Clinton.

"I think that the results show that Republicans came out and voted for Clinton, or he wouldn't have won Arizona," said Jess Trias of Tucson.

At Dole's post-election gathering in Washington, D.C., Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said it would have been tough for any Republican to beat Clinton.

"I'm going to say, 'Bob, you fought the good fight. There's a good economy, the best politician that's probably ever held the White House is there. You did the right thing and God bless you and thank you for serving our country so well,'" McCain said.

Some Democrats had only a simple message with regards to the presidents victory in Arizona.

"Forty-eight years is a long time to wait," said Melodee Jackson, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party.

Kolbe noted Clinton's victory displayed the popularity of Republican ideology.

"This is the first time in history that a Democrat has been elected president and not carried either the House or the Senate. (Clinton) campaigned this year on exactly what the Republicans said we were going to do - smaller government, tax relief, immigration reform, and (Republicans) are going to work with him to make sure he fulfills those mandates," Kolbe said.

He said Clinton has taken credit for many of the ideas of the Republican-controlled Congress.

"I don't think there's much doubt (Clinton has taken credit for Republican proposals). In his acceptance speech in Chicago (at the Democratic National Convention), he mentions 19 things, 15 of which were passed by the Republican Congress," Kolbe said.

Democrat Mort Nelson, who ran against Kolbe for the U.S. House, had rather strong words about Dole's campaign.

"Mr. Dole never should have run. Newsweek blames Mrs. Dole for letting him run, I blame the Republicans. He was losing before the race even started," Nelson said.

Republican Victory Party Chairwoman Kathleen Dunbar, said a liberal media bias contributed to Dole's defeat.

"When you hear surveys that 40 percent of Americans get their political news from Jay Leno and David Letterman, when the liberal media put ideas into people's heads by saying, 'He's losing. He's losing. He's losing,' the people are going to go with the winner," Dunbar said.

In Phoenix, Sam Coppersmith, Democratic Party chairman for Arizona, said the country has become moderate, and that is one reason for Clinton's victory.

"This is a mainstream, moderate state and country and Bill Clinton is a more moderate leader than anyone in the Republican party," Coppersmith said.

The president's themes of a balanced federal budget, welfare reform and support for the death penalty struck a chord with Arizona voters. Polls also showed Clinton's stance on Medicare played well with the state's elderly voters, who make up 20 percent of the statewide vote and traditionally vote Republican.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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