Obama is finally President-Elect. I truly, truly, truly think that this man will make a great President, one every American will be proud to have at the helms of the nation. He has campaigned for over 21 months, and what an exhausting campaign it must have been ! His sprightly energy – he bounded up stairs, and spoke in driving rain – came in sharp contrast to McCain’s lurching gait.

There were other differences too – differences in ideology, which is expected, but more importantly differences in behavior, thinking and integrity. While McCain talked the talk, he didn’t walk the walk. And in all his high-sounding rhetoric about integrity, and standing up for what you believed in, it seemed like he was doing the reverse. He was praised initially for being a great man, having done much in service of his country. But somewhere down the line, McCain started to lose focus, and his message became more about smearing Obama, than about the American people. And then it seemed like he had sold his soul in return for a chance to reside in the White House.

Last evening McCain was nothing if not dignified and gracious while delivering a moving concession speech. He called Obama “my President” and promised him all assistance. He gestured for people to stop booing as he said these words, he held up his hands and remonstrated “Please, Please.” Where was this graciousness, this dignity the past few months ? Did mounting pressure and the right wing of the RNC manage to tamp it down ? This tells you quite a bit about McCain’s character, and this I believe caused him to become the target of much criticism over the past few months.

It was Obama’s night and day. As he gave his very moving speech at Grant Park last night, he was victorious and smiling, but well in control. He promised hope to not only his supporters but to those who didn’t support him, telling them that he hears their voices, and needs their support. That he would be their President too. And if that’s not the sign of a great man, I don’t know what is.

Besides Obama’s personal victory (to our very good fortune), it is also a very historic day. America has a Caucasian majority, and America has elected it’s first African-American President! Astounding, when you realize that race is still an issue in this country. Not overtly, no – but where do you think they get the so-called Bradley effect from ? As I watched video snippets on NDTV about Martin Luther’s King “I have a dream” speech, it was all very moving. To think that African-American’s got their right to vote only a few decades back, and that in deep, southern Texas, till recently there were signs of covert racism. And now you have an African-American President !

It’s almost filmi, you know. The country’s in trouble, and here comes the young hero, with resources we hadn’t dreamed of. America is in big trouble right now. And here comes Obama – he’s almost made to order. Of high intellect and temperate nature, he talks of a united nation. He’s got the skills of an organizer, and the stamina to persevere in the face of disapproving odds. He is resourceful and can (and has) run a tight ship. He’s gracious, and dignified, high-minded and a little professorial. Just the President we need.

Which is why the pressure is pretty high for him to deliver. He tried to temper that in his speech last night, and while it is true that this mess is too big and too intricate to be resolved quickly, resolved it must be. After all these years, one African-American has done what none before him could do. He has been much touted as the next big hope, and much looked upto as the candidate to solve America’s problems, and he will have to make good on those promises.

I, personally, think that he will.

More importantly, millions of Americans also think the same.