Why Obama Won

Obama won. As a 21-year old male in Boston, I can't say I didn't see this coming. He was everywhere I went. At school, there were nighttime debates about him, and he was referenced myriad times in my classes. He was on the websites I visited, namely Kanye West's blog, and his face was plastered on the t-shirts of kids whose only interest in politics before was an apathetic one. There weren't many people I ran into that didn't assume I was voting for him, and it seemed to me he was already a celebrity, even without one vote being cast. At times I wondered if it was all smoke and mirrors. Despite all this, there were very real reasons why he won.

Bush certainly was a big contributor to Obama's victory. After stretching a presidency that probably should have ended after one term to two, the American public was ready for a change. That change could even be a partisan one, from Republican to Democrat. Bush also received the blame for many of the things Obama sought to change, such as unemployment and the economy, pledging "together we can." While these pledges were being made, John McCain was actually admitting that he didn't know how to use a computer.

If McCain's age was a con to the republican ticket, the addition of Sarah Palin was its kiss of death. While a very attractive (pun intended) choice, she was far too right-wing to reach the moderates that decided this election. Stories about her beliefs and actions, as well as her desires for the rest of America, swelled into fantastic rumors that were pretty scary. For instance, I heard she wanted to immediately overturn Roe vs. Wade.

Blame can lay where it will, but the biggest reason for Barack Obama's victory is himself. He is an extremely articulate and charismatic president, probably the most-so since Ronald Reagan, and marketed himself very well. He spoke about change, as most politicians do, but somehow, he also embodied it to the point where Obama and change were synonymous.

Obama mobilized the young voters in a way few candidates have been able to, and utilized the press like no other. He was on the cover of Rolling Stone, and gave fantastic interviews. Even after his election, he is exhibiting the exact same qualities that made him win. Speaking to the voters that did not cast a vote for him, he said "I need your support. I am your president too." I guess the t-shirts that said "my president," were right, he is my president. And while I do want to hear him speak more about his policies, I could go without hearing another rap song about him.