THE MAN OF THE MOMENT

"Whatever happens, Mr Obama is already that rare thing —a political phenomenon. It is not just that he has managed to survive the Clintons' crude onslaught with grace. He has persuaded huge numbers of people around the world to reconsider politics in an optimistic way. To many Americans, a black man who eschews both racial politics and the conservative-liberal divide is a chance to heal the country's two deepest divisions. To many foreigners, he represents an idealistic version of America—the hope of a more benevolent superpower."
Not in entire agreement with the rest of The Economist opinion, but this certainly rings true.