Discuss “The implications of a historic election”

Barack Obama is young, charismatic, and hopeful about the future — just the sort of figure Americans were waiting to get behind, which is probably why so many did. And, yes, Obama won the presidential election — but he didn’t do it alone. Obama’s campaign represents one of the best administrative and grassroots efforts for a presidential race of all time.

Ordinary people, many of whom had never participated in a campaign effort, logged hours registering voters, making phone calls, knocking on doors, and driving people to the polls. Others made donations, which provided funds for the Obama campaign to support every person and community that wanted to display Obama stickers on their jackets and yard signs in their front yards, or hold...