Obama has received no mandate, it was no landslide. If all the first time voters hadn't voted he wouldn't even be in office. It was absolutley the bandwagon effect in this election. The people who got him in don't realize what they voted for.

John, sarasota, US

Look at the stats to see why Obama won. It was the youth vote. This group has no recollection of the economically pathetic 1970's that resulted from Johnson's Great Society and US drift towards Socialism that ended with the defeat of Carter. They are not aware of the consequences of their vote.

Tony, Novato, USA

When will you liberals own up to the fact that Barney Frank, Chriss Dodd and a Democratic Congress are also to blame for this mess. You like to throw it all on the Bush Administration and they deserve a huge share of the blame. But why shouldn't the Democratic Congress share in the blame?

Ed, Houston, USA

Landslide? When did 52% become a landslide? But that aside the democrats control congress and the White House now, and we want them to fulfill their promises...or in 4 years you see a real landslide the other way.

valwayne, Denver, USA

In 2004, Bush said he had a mandate with "political capital" to spend even though he "won" with far less votes than Obama. Last Tuesday, 56.6 million people voted for McCain and 64.2 million people voted for Obama. That's 7.6 million MORE for the president-elect.

Paloma, Bay Area, USA

Given the fact that the electoral college system over emphases the victor, it would be better to look at actual vote counts. This is not a left wing victory! People were concerned about the economy and more slightly the war, which is finishing any way, at least in Iraq. So no Left wing victory!

Tony Spurgin, San Diego, USA

Frightening.

charles stubbart, chicago illinois, usa

"...with a left-wing record on the environment, healthcare, abortion and gun control..."

Obama campaigned as a moderate/centrist against his liberal record -- a so called "supporter" of the 2nd Amendment, for example. Many of us are wondering just which Obama will show up in Jan.

Keith, Chicago, USA

I believe John McCain made a most magnanimous speech in defeat, something Obama, in his sense of triumphalism, hasn't the grace or courage to acknowledge: he doesn't deserve my respect.

ian cheese, london, uk

I think the mandate here is to give the US competent responsible government. It would be a mistake to interpret the election as a mandate for "left-wing" government, if one can use that term about the US.

Vivian, Vancouver, Canada

I think that once the US gets used to a black family in the white house and see that Obama is not a socialist they will feel more comfortable and hopefully reelect him with an even bigger mandate. The demographics have changed.

marianne hinton, london, uk

It should be obvious that 51-48 cannot be considered a crushing efeat or a mandate. It is a clear defeat, yet 48 million voters will not just melt into the woodwork, they will not go away

bernard ross, st anns bay, jamaica

There is no clear mandate to move anything left of center. Moderate conservatives and independents are what pushed Obama over the line the other night and the economy was the catalyst, nothing more nothing less.

charles Jackson, kenosha wi, usa

The US has never been a conservative nation. It has however been willing to indulge it self in its prejudices and fears. For once it was pretty clear that we need a leader who knows what he is about, much as in 1932. I hope we have chosen as well this time! Good luck and God speed to Barack Obama

Ed Mahan, Marlborough, USA

America is neither conservative nor liberal as a nation. It is a federal republic composed of sovereign states with their own particular dominant ideologies. These states vote in blocs, and different blocs win out at different times.

Cottonus Matherus, Boston, Massachusetts

Jon, the ridiculous right cared not when they inflicted a crushing defeat on more than 50% of the american populace (8 yrs of Cheney/Bush).. We have given Barack a mandate. It is time for change.

bobby, Cookeville, TN, USA

The tribal differences of US political groupings are deeply felt but more emotional than rational. Xenophobic right wing media are controlled by corporate interests. The generational change has blown this cover and will move the massive country gradually greener and further left. Yippee!

Bob, Toronto, Canada

This from the man who spent ten years telling us that Gordon Brown was an economic genius and that the fact that US savings ratio was negligible did not matter (at least while Clinton was President). Kaletsky's most useful contribution would be a long period of silence.

michael mcgowan, London, UK

they have elected herbert hoover again. except this time it is after the crash rather than before it. obama is a protectionist just like hoover was and we all know what great things protectionism did for the global ecconomy after the wall street crash

will, grimsby, uk

The persistence of support for the Social Darwinism hailed by the right over the last 30 years is disheartening. Whatever happened to the charity, mercy and forebearance Dickens called for in "A Christmas Carol?" It has died with unbridled capitalism, dogmatic conservatism & unabashed self-interest.

Brett, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

I can't see how 52% - only slightly over half a simple majority is a mandate to do anything. Perhaps you can explain this "logic" in detail?

Michael Schaaf, Cincinnati, USA

52-47 is no mandate for liberalism. But for the insane bias of the broadcast media, the election could have gone the other way.

James, London, UK

I think there has been a wake up by large numbers of Americans who have realised they are not hugely wealthy, and are unlikely to become so.

$250,000 is a way above average salary, and sympathy for people in this bracket was only sustained when ordinary people felt they could get there.

Nick, France,

52-47 is not a 'crushing defeat'. I think Americans wish something different, but not too different. I'm not sure we have worked out just what, but McCain wasn't it. Many people are shouting 'realignment' as if it has already done. That is wrong; what this election has done is opened an opportunity.

Don , London,

Although I support Obama for Gods Sake!! The Democrats are as much to blame as the Republicans for the financial crises and the economic downturn and maybe even more so for it was THEY under Clinton who decided to deregulate Wall Street

Mark, London,

Glad to hear you brought your daughter up as a girl - it saves confusion later on.

In this period of financial crisis, vague leftish promises to redistribute wealth are very appealing, especially to the young who haven't worked much for their own wealth, but when better times return, what then?

Simon, Brussels,

I'm liberal myself, but I see no mandate for liberalism. Americans are fearing for their jobs and retirement accounts, first and foremost. Obama had to run on a low tax platform to be elected. Americans want low taxes and high prosperity, and will choose the candidate most likely to provide both.

Adrian, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Interesting but not very convincing. I'm sure many white folk voted for Obama because they supported his policies. But how many "ethnics" simply voted for him because of his race ? Those at emotional, not thoughtful votes.....

John C Calhoun, Edinburgh, Scotland UK

Excellent points. But you have missed the reason for the voters rejection of "low taxes and small government". Americans hate hypocrites above all else. They wanted the Republicans out for singularly failing to do what they said they would do: control spending and shrink government.

Douglas Schmidt, Atlanta, USA

This is interesting happy-talk, but what happens when you inflict a "crushing defeat" on 48% of the electorate? What happens is that society becomes more polarised, and its divisions become sharper, because the defeated are fearful and feel themselves to be under siege. This is a dangerous time.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

"The US is no longer a conservative nation. The Democrats have won a powerful mandate to move the country leftwards"

And it will be the ruination of them...

Zordana, Bucks, England