MONTPELIER, Vt. — Democrat Barack Obama used his promise of hope and change to grab Vermont’s three electoral votes Tuesday on his way to winning the presidency, easily defeating Republican John McCain.

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, easily won re-election. The freshman Democrat defeated five candidates in his first election since taking office in 2007.

Gov. Jim Douglas, too, won his re-election bid. With just over 78 percent of the vote counted, he had 55 percent of the vote.

Douglas still must contend with a Legislature with big Democratic majorities in both houses.

Many Vermonters believed Obama would rally the country, rescue the middle class and restore the country’s good name globally.

“I grew up in the ’60s and I am amazed and excited today. (Obama) has the ability to change our country,” said Lori Schreiner, 54, of West Brattleboro, a Democrat who voted for Obama.

Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, a Republican, was ahead in his race against Democrat Tom Costello.

Among the other noteworthy races:

u State Auditor Thomas Salmon, a Democrat, easily won re-election — even though he couldn’t participate in his campaign in any way. Salmon, 45, is a U.S. Naval Reserve member on active duty in Iraq.

u Attorney General William Sorrell, a Democrat, also breezed to re-election, with 78 percent of the vote. Among his opponents: Charlotte Dennett, 61, of Cambridge, a Progressive Party candidate who said she’d prosecute President Bush for murder if elected.

Vermont Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, who also won re-election Tuesday, predicted voter turnout would eclipse the previous record of 68.9 percent set in 1992.

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