This was a narrow victory in terms of the popular vote. But in every other way, it's massive.
There's a Democrat in the White House.
A Democrat majority in the Senate.
Obama won nearly all of the swing states.
He won America's fastest-growing demographics, including an overwhelming majority of the Latino vote, and a decisive majority of the youth vote.
America has its first openly gay senator, its first Asian female senator.
Gay marriage has been approved by voters in three states.
Two states have voted to approve marijuana.
Michelle Bachmann has lost her seat (UPDATE: I spoke too soon. Seems she held on, just) and other prominent Tea Partiers lost their races.
Universal healthcare insurance is now entrenched and will soon seem normal.
In other words, the liberals won. Big. And conservatives lost.
This commentator suggests that yesterday may come to be regarded as an equivalent turning point to Reagan's victory in 1984.
Four years ago, there was much talk of the long-term shrinking of the GOP base. Then the 2010 "shellacking" happened and that talk went away. Well, it's back, and with a vengeance. 2010 now looks like a blip. At this rate, the Democrats will hold the White House for another twelve years.
America is changing. Will the Republican Party?
Much as I approve of that and wish it so, I remember when people were saying the same kind of thing about the labour party:
"The conservatives will not see office for another twenty years".
Posted by: sam | November 07, 2012 at 10:19 AM
Did you mean first Asian WOMAN senator? America has had several Asian senators -- including the man Mazie Hirono will replace.
Furthermore, while a very close result, Michele Bachmann has been re-elected (though Tea Party Rep. Allen West in Florida was defeated).
Posted by: RobGeorge | November 07, 2012 at 10:42 AM
Thanks Rob. I've updated.
Sam - do you remember what year that was? Was it 1997? Before the Tories were out of office for thirteen years, and only got back in thanks to a coalition?
Posted by: Ian Leslie | November 07, 2012 at 11:09 AM
Yes, it was after the first landslide labour win. But I still feel cheated of another seven years...
Posted by: sam | November 07, 2012 at 01:36 PM
Nevertheless they haven't actually *won* an election. There never seemed to be a swing towards the right. Gosh this makes me happy.
Posted by: Simon Kane | November 07, 2012 at 06:12 PM