The "Democrats’ gains were not quite as comprehensive as they had hoped"?

If you'd told me Obama would win the popular vote by 7 million votes, and that he'd take Republican strongholds like Indiana and (as it now appears) North Carolina, I'd have dismissed you out of hand as a fantasist.

Seamus MacDhai, Durham, Co.Durham, UK

This is a fine analysis of American politics. I would add that it would be foolish for my fellow citizens to say that the election of a black man to the presidency (unthinkable until recently) moves us toward more progressive social policies. Would it were so. But this is a radical cultural shift.

Joe, Dearborn, United States of America

Very well thought out article, to be frank, just what this conservative needed to hear to instill a little hope. Indeed, my heart had been breaking as I had thought America had died, but after reading this article, I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks!

John H McConnel Jr, Mount Carroll, USA

The victory was of the news media. Now everyone says that Regan was a wonderful president, but when he was in office the news reprted he could do nothing right. Clinton could do no wrong. Bush could do no right. Obama will continue to walk on water. We Americans have have no ideas of our own.

Papa Jack, Burke, USA

Lets all hope that this Obama victory combined with the slight but not overwhelming Democratic Congress will lead to moderation and centrist collaboration. Most people in the US do not want either a European style government or a hands-off Bush style government.

John, Arlington,

While state results for amendments and high number of voters for McCain are still signs we have far to go as liberals, there is hope. Secondly, please don't do us a disservice by comparing our voting for Obama/Biden and a democratic majority in Congress to the Palin choice.

Jason, Florida, USA

Ah, but they will need reminding. Look for a lurch to the left in legislation and government policies. Look for a reprise of the L. Johnson years, when the Democrats simply exhausted the country, and the peoples' patience, with their cascade of new social legislation.

What then in 2012? 1968?

Terry L. Walker, Ladson, SC / USA

It is nice to see the view from the outside. All we are hearing in the media over here is how wonderful Obama is, and how complete his victory was. The rest of us should just shut up and fall into line. I am glad thing don't look as dire as both sides here are making them out to be. Thanks!

Chris R, San Diego, California, USA

Good article giving a brief explanation on American ideology and political affiliations.

Mark Lee, POS, Trinidad

You are wrong on the first Reagan margin of victory, it was 55.3 percent. Other than that, you're right.

Darrell Smith, Hagerstown, Indiana, USA

Bob Evans,

You are right, 53% is not exactly a mandate, but 6% is a pretty clear victory and is by no means "one of the closest presidential elections." Remember, that 6% is a wider margin than Bush won combined between his two elections. Not a mandate, but a clear victory.

Nathan, Cleveland, Ohio,

McCain discredited himself by choosing Palin in a blind act of faith in someone he didn't know: something no one should do, let alone a future president. The US has done the same by choosing Obama who has no serious credentials in leadership. Giving the inexperienced power is culpable foolishness.

Greg Lorriman, Leatherhead, UK

Obama is a shrewd,or what's the same, a Chicago politician. He is a poker player who wins becuse of others' mistakes. So some Great Expectations due to be deflated. The hope is he won't govern from the hip.

Felix, Mountain View,

Good article, I thought similar things myself. The days of the US going all red or all blue seem to be over. It also seems to me that people are more entrenched now, there is a strong divide between Republicans and Democrats with less people open to voting for the 'other side'.

Tony, Islington, London, UK

Excellent analysis. Thanks. There is hope for those of us moderates. Pelosi and Reid should remember that the last time the Dems ruled both Congress & the WH, the solid grip on power lasted only two years, & that the Great Depression was caused by govt interference, not the market crash of 1929.

Suzanne, Colorado Rockies, United States

The key point here is surely that Obama sits on the AMERICAN left. If he were to spend the next 8 years presiding over the greatest expansion of government that the US has ever seen, you'd still be looking at country with less welfare, lower taxes and smaller government than any European nation.

Andy B, St Albans, UK

Have a look at Obama's birth chart interpretation on the net. Wow, what a man, what a leader! He will be a man of peace and harmony. I just hope this is not too good to be true.

Alice, hove,

Even those of us who did not vote for Obama, and have philosophical differences with him, are very proud to have him as our President. He is ours too. He is a good person.
Best of all, now black children see someone who looks like them who is President.
We are closer to becoming truly color-blind

Cindy Millen, Toledo, Ohio, USA

Excellent insight! When Obama gets just 53% of the popular vote, it hardly a "mandate" Democrats and some media have called it. Such thinking is delusional, & far from it. A swing of just 3% (3.5M votes) would have reversed the results, making it one of the narrowest of Presidential elections.

Bob Evans, Lowestoft, Suffolk, Back home in Blighty

You said it Gerard. The Democrats outspent the Republicans. What may have helped Obama, is he is more pro-renewable energy (RE) , a growth industry with job opportunities.

Hugo van Randwyck, London, UK

Spot on Mr Baker. The moment Obama tries to foist some of the wackier socialist schemes on the American public he'll lose his inexpicable popularlity.he won becuase he was oppsoing the worst president in decades, and because he's from a mixed race - not black - family. He did not win on his policies

John Bull, Wolverhampton,

The other thing to remember is that this election represents a backlash aginst Karl Rove's ultimately destructive politics of divisiveness. Obama ran as someonw who will unite the country, this can only be achieved by governing from the center. A small majority in Congress is good.

Peter, London,

Gerard Baker again shows himself to be one of the best journalists at understanding and explaining America.

XXXKarenXXX, Near Seattle, USA