WATCH: Obama wipes away tears addressing campaign workers after White House win

While Americans have seen the President talk tough and even let loose these past four years, he is rarely seen publicly weeping.

By Erik Ortiz / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

While President Obama portrayed himself as a fighter on the campaign trail, a video taken the morning after his Election Day win shows an emotionally raw, softer side to the politician.
With a second term on the horizon, the President returned to his Obama for America headquarters in Chicago on Wednesday to thank his young campaign staff — and was visibly choked up in the process. During his four years in the White House, Americans have seen Obama give soaring speeches, dance and sing, but never cry so openly.
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“Even before last night’s results, I felt that the work I had done in running for office had come full circle because what you guys have done means that the work that I’m doing is important,” Obama said in a five minute video uploaded Thursday to YouTube.
Sensing the emotion in his voice, chief campaign strategist David Axelrod can be heard in the background saying, “Barack, calm down.”
But Obama went on. “I’m really proud of all of you,” he said, stopping to wipe away a tear. The room responded in applause.
He also told his campaign staff they “lifted me up.”
"The most important thing you need to know is that your journey's just beginning,” Obama said. “You're just starting. And whatever good we do over the next four years will pale in comparison to whatever you guys end up accomplishing in the years and years to come.”