Hey, Pat, you're confusing your statistics. Youth made up 18% of all those people casting votes. Youth turnout was 66% - which was better than the average national figure, and dramtically better than the youth turnout for the past 35 years. They did NOT "stay home".

bishophicks, Central MA, USA

Pat, just a quick note: youth turnout was 65%; the 18% number was the percentage of _all_ voters who fell into _that_ age group.

Jordan, Los Angeles, USA

When it's done right it's truly a sight to behold, isn't it? My bi-racial son is beside himself. My wife, who is black, said as she watched the celebrations, "I knew he was the better candidate and I knew every poll showed him winning, but I couldn't let myself imagine this - it's amazing."

bishophicks, Central MA, USA

We hold these truths to be self-evident....

Jim Spencer, Indianapolis, USA

Thank you Times of London and thank you people of the world for your good wishes. We will always try our best to keep this great nation an example for the world. We also will always remember those less fortunate than ourselves and work hard to help them the best we can. God bless America.

Donna M, nyack, USA

America is like a huge family with members from all corners of the globe. We squabble and fight and take sides against one another, but we work to resolve our differences within the confines of our gigantic home. And every 4 years we proudly succeed as we reaffirm our commitment to our democracy.

Carolyn, Houston, Texas, USA

I only hope is that President-elect Obama can play a significant role in bringing all of us, Great Britain, the rest of Europe, Asia and Africa and all the world's players together to realize the opportunities and resources of our planet.

Wesley Springhorn, Bellport, USA

This election proofed after 2 botched and contested election that the US election system still works.
And no one has the experience to become President, we have to hope that we pick someone of superior intelect and temprament. Obama has proven he has both.

Karin Brumbaugh, Dallas Texas,

Thanks for the lovely editorial. As usual, you Brits say it better. There will be inevitable disappointments in the months and years to come, but I will always remember this as our finest political moment.

David Elliot Cohen, San Francisco, USA

I enjoyed this prose, but I find it extremely hard to be lectured on race relations by a european. Especially, at a time when european attitudes towards immigrants and people of color are the most hostile they have been in decades.

John Deegan, Abilene, Texas, USA

The delirium did not come mostly from the young, as you state; it came from those of us who felt as if we'd fallen asleep in 1963, had a horrible nightmare, and woke up to our old, hopeful reality.

Once again, the vaunted "youth vote" stayed at home in front of the XBox, with only 18% voting.

Pat, New York, USA

Thank you for this beautiful editorial.

Paul O'Connor, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

President-Elect Obama may be symbolic and inspirational to the world but simultaneously he has very little successful history other than self-promotion. He is superb at self-promotion and epitomizes an expression common in the Mountain West states of the USA which is "All hat, no cattle."

Steve Weiss, Stevenson, Washington

The rest of the story. I'm not berating Senator Obama, just pointing out that he is unproven. The system of electing a new president worked..excellently! Even though I'm not enthused about Obama he will be our President and I will support him in that endeavor. Generally, we like to be civil.

Steve Weiss, Stevenson, Washington

Americans chose who they thought was the better candidate to lead the nation in these dire times. It was for the substance, and making history was a collateral gift, but of course there is no denying that the symbolism, hope and optimism this has evoked around the world is huge.

Geetha Srikrishna, La Jolla, USA

The fact is, despite the emotional division that occurred during this campaign, the American system worked. America has never seen a "Bloody Coup" and likely never will. The Presidency is constant and will and has survived good and bad Presidents. I can't say the same for other first world countries

Mycroft Holmes, Palm Bay, USA

Not my unique words, just a reflection perhaps of what so many of us Americans felt as Obama shared himself with us during the campaign and became President-elect last night:

What a historic day for America, hopeful not helpless, positive not
negative, inspired not fearful, and united not divided

Kevin Mulcahy, Shrewsbury, USA

My wife last night sat down with our boys aged 6 and 9 and expained to the the significance of this historic election and that in 50 years they wil be telling their grandchildren how the world for one day seemed so small and the power of hope entered everyones heart around the world.

thomas , Norwich, england

As an American who is a member of the Republican Party, I am angry that we did not wage a better campaign and that our candidates did not represent the best and the brightest we have to offer.

But more importantly and more to the point , I could not be prouder of my country!

Bob Branham, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

I wish that the Americans would export some democracy to the motherland. The effect of the surrender of sovreignty to Brussels, thestrengthening of the party system and the concentration of power in the office of the Prime Minister has emasculated democracy in the UK. Elective tyranny is the realty

Stephen Green, Correns, France