David Jackson, USA TODAY; Michael King, WXIA-TV
Mitt Romney has conceded the presidential race to President Barack Obama.
"I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory," Romney tells supporters in Boston.
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Romney also thanked wife Ann, saying "she would have been a wonderful first lady."
Saying "I believe in America," Romney seeks a bipartisan tone. In congratulating Obama, Romney said he will "pray for him, and pray for this great nation."
Early returns and exit polling show Romney defeating Obama in Georgia. Obama also failed to carry the state in 2008.
With 97 percent reporting, Romney took 1,969,785 votes for 53 percent, holding a 7-point lead over Obama's 1,690,452 votes for 46 percent.
Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson took 42,785 votes in the state, good for 1 percent.
Romney had been a favorite to win in the state where Republicans hold every statewide office and have wide majorities in the Legislature.
The former Massachusetts governor placed second in Georgia's presidential primary in March, behind former Georgia Congressman and House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gingrich later dropped out of the race.
Georgia was never considered a key state in the presidential contest. Both Romney and Obama raised money in Georgia, but neither candidate mounted a major campaign in the state.
County-by-county:
Baldwin (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 7,585 - 47 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 8,469 - 52 percent
Johnson, Lib 160 - 1 percent
Bibb (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 25,606 - 40 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 38,538 - 60 percent
Johnson, Lib 481 - 1 percent
Bleckley (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 3,586 - 73 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 1,266 - 26 percent
Johnson, Lib 51 - 1 percent
Crawford (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 3,366 - 66 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 1,699 - 33 percent
Johnson, Lib 58 - 1 percent
Dodge (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 5,214 - 67 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 2,440 - 32 percent
Johnson, Lib 77 - 1 percent
Dooly (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 1,983 - 46 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 2,278 - 53 percent
Johnson, Lib 28 - 1 percent
Hancock (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 764 - 19 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 3,301 - 81 percent
Johnson, Lib 11 - 0 percent
Houston (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 31,591 - 60 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 20,497 - 39 percent
Johnson, Lib 524 - 1 percent
Jones (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 7,740 - 64 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 4,272 - 35 percent
Johnson, Lib 87 - 1 percent
Lamar (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 4,896 - 65 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 2,602 - 34 percent
Johnson, Lib 91 - 1 percent
Laurens (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 11,947 - 61 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 7,508 - 38 percent
Johnson, Lib 136 - 1 percent
Macon Co. (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 1,545 - 32 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 3,211 - 67 percent
Johnson, Lib 25 - 1 percent
Monroe (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 8,352 - 68 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 3,779 - 31 percent
Johnson, Lib 128 - 1 percent
Oglethorpe (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 4,250 - 68 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 1,913 - 31 percent
Johnson, Lib 95 - 2 percent
Peach (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 5,280 - 46 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 6,141 - 53 percent
Johnson, Lib 78 - 1 percent
Pulaski (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 2,444 - 66 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 1,219 - 33 percent
Johnson, Lib 18 - 0 percent
Putnam (88 percent)
Romney, GOP 5,710 - 67 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 2,730 - 32 percent
Johnson, Lib 72 - 1 percent
Telfair (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 2,479 - 57 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 1,804 - 42 percent
Johnson, Lib 51 - 1 percent
Tift (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 9,171 - 66 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 4,640 - 33 percent
Johnson, Lib 82 - 1 percent
Treutlen (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 1,646 - 60 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 1,068 - 39 percent
Johnson, Lib 24 - 1 percent
Twiggs (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 1,905 - 45 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 2,269 - 54 percent
Johnson, Lib 25 - 1 percent
Upson (80 percent)
Romney, GOP 7,197 - 66 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 3,685 - 34 percent
Johnson, Lib 48 - 0 percent
Wheeler (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 1,366 - 63 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 772 - 36 percent
Johnson, Lib 22 - 1 percent
Wilkinson (100 percent)
Romney, GOP 2,245 - 50 percent
Obama, Dem (i) 2,180 - 49 percent
Johnson, Lib 23 - 1 percent