Looking out of the window this morning I noticed in the bright autumnal sunlight of New York a queue emerging at the polling station over the road - a portend that the sheer level of interest in the election would lead to a long day.By this evening the polls were gradually confirming the election of Democrat Senator Barack Obama to the post of president of the United States.
Reflecting on the past 18 months I suspect analysts would note that the economic crash in mid-September played a major role in unwinding the gradual catch-up in the polls made by Republican Senator John McCain.
Undoubtedly the incumbent party faced challenge, though issues such as Iraq played a lesser role in the campaign.
The challenge now, for whomever might have run, is to address the major economic and foreign policy challenges - something that would handicap either candidate.
That said, the campaign was very well plotted out on the ground and clearly the titanic battle with Hilary Clinton pushing the Obama fundraising machine to a level which enabled blanket media coverage in the final two months.
On a personal note, I felt that John McCain's story was one which really deserved to be rewarded by the Post. "Political life rarely in any country, a wry observer once noted, matches effort with reward".
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