Obama's win brings history, hope
By ALEX DEMARCO
DCN Correspondent
“Racial Barrier Falls in Decisive Victory,� read the front page of the New York Times. For many people, Barack Obama's win over John McCain on Tuesday night signified more then just a movement toward dramatic “change� in America as Obama's campaign states. It shattered racial boundaries that previous generations could not have even begun to imagine.
Until 1870, blacks weren't allowed to vote at all. In America’s history, blacks were forced to live in segregation. In Duluth, black residents say that Obama has shown the world how far America has come.
“I never thought I'd see history in the making� said Ma and Pop's 4th Street Market employee Flora Woodfork. “This shows our kids that they are able to do anything they want now. Nothing is unreachable.
“My folks wouldn't have believed it if they were alive� said Woodfork. “It was real scary. There was a lot of red on that map on TV. I just kept thinking he's got to make it. It was exciting and emotional to watch.�
But there are still some people who are skeptical of the new president-elect.
“I was really happy to see the voter turnout, it was good to see people who don't usually vote take the initiative this year,� said UMD student Ben Dahlstrom. “But I don't know if people were really voting on the issues that they should have been. I do hope Barack is a good President though.�
Blog entries and news articles questioning the reason for McCain's loss began to fill the media within minutes of the election’s end. McCain blamed no one but himself in his concession speech. Even global websites like EuroNews speculated about his choice of running mate, Sarah Palin.
EuroNews also quoted political analyst, Allan J. Lichtman, who said “American elections are basically votes up or down on the performance of the party holding the White House, and basically Americans said loud and clear they don’t like the way the country has been governed over the last four years.�
According to the Office of Minnesota Secretary of State Web site, 54 percent of Minnesotans voted for Obama and fewer than 44 percent were for McCain. This was almost identical to the overall vote nationwide, with Obama at 53 percent and McCain at 46 percent, according to the CNN website.
There is no doubt that Obama's win capped a historical election. During his victory speech in Chicago, Obama thanked his friends, family and campaign managers among others. He credited them all with being a part of a successful campaign.
“But above all,� said Obama in his closing. “I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you.�