“If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”
– Barack Obama, Nov. 4, 2008
One hundred years after race riots in Illinois prompted the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Barack Hussein Obama, the first black president-elect of the United States, held his election-night victory in the same state. We're still taking in the moment. (Hussein, by the way, means “the handsome one” in Arabic.)
While the headlines are already looking forward to all the work yet to be done, we want to reflect on the election that was with some interesting takeaways.
Key presidential points:
- Voter turnout was the largest since 1964, when Lyndon Johnson beat Barry Goldwater. About 60% of registered voters, around 130 million people, went to the polls this year.
- Obama won 28 of the 50 states, 52% of the popular vote, and 364 electoral college votes (McCain took 162).
- Obama won 95% of the black vote and 43% of the white vote (see the exit polls).
Other points of interest from Tuesday:
- Democrats gained six seats in the Senate. Tally is now 57 Democrats to 40 Republicans (3 races are still being counted).
- Democrats gained 19 seats in the House, bringing the count to 254 vs 173 (8 races are still being counted).
- Abortion rights won out across the country: South Dakotans defeated a ban on all abortions for the second time in two years; Californians voted that parents of minors did not have to be notified before getting an abortion; Coloradans voted against the definition of "person" at the point of conception.
- Gay rights were dealt a blow. Bans on same-sex marriage were passed in Florida, Arizona, and even in California.
- Marijuana made some strides: Massachusetts decriminalized being caught with under an ounce of pot; Michigan legalized it for medicinal purposes.
- Michelle’s dress on election night was by designer Narcisco Rodriguez (Oh, we digress! What did you think?).
The big picture
There’s no time for rest. A momentous election is barely over and already world leaders are calling for Obama's attention on various issues. He’s pulling his White House team together and is likely to be involved in helping steer any kind of stimulus package that the “lame-duck” Congress may try to pass ahead of his inauguration, which is just 11 weeks away.
Now get out there and show'em what you know!
