Five reasons Obama won, and five why McCain lost
Okay, so having still had very little (4 hours) sleep and an incessantly chirpy world media, I thought I'd weigh in with a little analysis of why what happened happened, and why what might have happened didn't happen. And what might happen now that what happened happened. If you see what I mean.
So here are five reasons why Obama won the election:
1) The country was ready for "change we can believe in." Not quite as succinct as "It's time" but I guess the same principle. Obama's message was simple: Washington needs changed - and he was the man to do it. And that message resonated with voters.
2) He got the vote out. Obama's appeal was not just to the African American vote, nor to young people (who saw him as "cool"). He talked to all parts of society. His campaign also pulled in a huge number of first-time voters after massive registration-drives across the country.
3) The massive campaign warchest. By election day it totalled over £400m ($650m), with which McCain - limiting himself to the federal limit - could not compete.
4) Celebrity appeal. At rallies across the country, Obama spoke to crowds running up to 100,000 people. And he spoke with an effortlessness, a certain (if you pardon the cliche) je ne sais quoi. You don't know what it is, but you know it when you see it. And Obama had it - at least for 63 million Americans.
5) America has itself changed. Just over half a century ago, civil rights activists saw a huge victory in stopping segregation on buses. Fifty years later, America has, finally, elected an African American to the highest office in the land. And yes - seeing the Rev Jesse Jackson with tears streaming down his face did pull at a heartstring or two here.
And here are five reasons that McCain lost:
1) The economy
2) The campaign he was forced to run (ie - to the right)
3) The choice of Sarah Palin as running mate
4) Eight years of George W Bush representing the Republican party
5) He was running against a force of nature
Thoughts?
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So here are five reasons why Obama won the election:
1) The country was ready for "change we can believe in." Not quite as succinct as "It's time" but I guess the same principle. Obama's message was simple: Washington needs changed - and he was the man to do it. And that message resonated with voters.
2) He got the vote out. Obama's appeal was not just to the African American vote, nor to young people (who saw him as "cool"). He talked to all parts of society. His campaign also pulled in a huge number of first-time voters after massive registration-drives across the country.
3) The massive campaign warchest. By election day it totalled over £400m ($650m), with which McCain - limiting himself to the federal limit - could not compete.
4) Celebrity appeal. At rallies across the country, Obama spoke to crowds running up to 100,000 people. And he spoke with an effortlessness, a certain (if you pardon the cliche) je ne sais quoi. You don't know what it is, but you know it when you see it. And Obama had it - at least for 63 million Americans.
5) America has itself changed. Just over half a century ago, civil rights activists saw a huge victory in stopping segregation on buses. Fifty years later, America has, finally, elected an African American to the highest office in the land. And yes - seeing the Rev Jesse Jackson with tears streaming down his face did pull at a heartstring or two here.
And here are five reasons that McCain lost:
1) The economy
2) The campaign he was forced to run (ie - to the right)
3) The choice of Sarah Palin as running mate
4) Eight years of George W Bush representing the Republican party
5) He was running against a force of nature
Thoughts?
