From senator to president

By now everyone has heard the name Barack Obama. As the president-elect, Obama is entering a country in need of solutions. It certainly isn't fair to expect him to fix the country, but if he can begin us on the right path he will have done this country and the world a huge service.

Eight years ago, though, Obama certainly wasn't a household name. Four years ago he wasn't mentioned as a presidential candidate.

How did Obama transform himself from a young Illinios senator to president in such a short amount of time? How did he beat out a man with so many more years of experience in Washington? I think that there are three reasons why Obama won.

The three major reasons why Obama won:

He ran a near flawless campaign. From his calm demeanor in debates, to the way he effortlessly swept aside John McCain's accusations, to the way he rallied so many underneath his banner, Obama won the respect and hope of the nation.

He did this by promising change, reform, and a world different than the one we have now. Now, of course, this is something all politicians do. But Obama was convincing. He didn't change his focus and he promised big things. Whether he can deliver on those promises is up in the air, but the way that he gave American's hope through his platform and speeches is what made him the most popular candidate.

He had several other things going for him. Joe Biden was a safe pick for vice president- he's experienced, liberal, and qualified for the job. Obama needed to present a united Democratic front and not do anything too radical to upset his chances. And he didn't. He came onto the political scene at just the right time. After eight years of a Republican in office, just about everyone was ready for a change.

During Bush's two terms as President we've entered two wars and economic hardship, among many other things. Whether this is Bush's fault or not, the very fact that he was in office during this time opened the door for a Democratic president.

John McCain and Sarah Palin were not a formidable opponent. McCain was not considered by many conservatives to be the best choice, but his seniority and fame won him the bid. Palin was a political tool, an attempt by the GOP to make McCain seem relevant to a newer generation. She was someone who could reach out to the conservative base better than McCain.

But in the end she and McCain were not a matching pair. They didn't present a powerful opponent. Instead, it looked as if the Republicans were losing and they knew it, so they had to do whatever they could to try and win.