President-Elect Barack Obama

8 Thoughts on the Current Campaigns #8

To be honest, I didn't think the American people had it in them. Obama ran a hopeful campaign. He appealed to our better natures. He won anyway.

It was a given that Obama would be better on this issues than his opponent. The Democratic candidate is always better on the issues. However, he was campaigning on the most progressive of issues. He wasn't playing the mythical middle of the road, he veered left. He even admitted that he was going to raise taxes on the rich. He won anyway.

When it was time to choose a running mate, Obama chose someone who would be more helpful in helping him govern than would help him get elected. Joe Biden was not the rock star pick that Senator Clinton would have been. He wasn't going to inspire millions of undecided voters to suddenly switch their allegiance. He won anyway.

When the financial crisis befell the country, Obama did not overreact. He didn't run off at the mouth and find himself forced to retract every statement a day or two later. He was a steady hand. He never looked flustered. He won anyway.

I didn't think the American people expected much of their President. Obama was almost the total opposite of the man who has held the job for the past eight years. He was calm, considered and intellectual without appearing elitist and condescending. He won anyway.

These are not the best of times. The American Dream has dimmed in the hopes of many. The next four years will not be easy. We can have confidence they we have chosen the right man for the job. Barack Obama ran a superior campaign. Hope for the future is alive again. We won.