Thousands erupted in joy Tuesday on New York`s Times Square as gigantic television screens relayed Democrat Barack Obama`s dramatic victory in the epic US presidential race.

Piercing howls of joy, dancing, and chants of `Obama! Obama!` broke out at the news flashing across the jumbotrons that line the neon-lit `Crossroads of the World.`

Police struggled to keep control as crowds spilled into the avenue clogged with the usual bizarre mixture of New York traffic -- ranging from a prancing police horse to rickshaws, a black limousine, a hot dog trolley and streams of yellow cabs.

`This is an amazing, historic moment for America. I`ve seen some really dark times over the last eight years,` said Andrew Bernard, a film production designer who came out with his 10-year-old son Lincoln.

`I wanted my son to come and see the shining light,` he said.

Tish Howard, 50, a black woman who grew up in segregated Alabama, said: `This night means a lot to me. Black people were left out of the political process back then.`

`In a lot of the small rural places, black people couldn`t even vote.`