Republicans aka conservatives are people as the name suggest people who are happy with the status quo and are generally more well off. They are in essence the people who are blue collar and in an American context the red necks. While the democrats are those that are usually young or the minority. They are arguably people who might support Gay rights and in a nutshell people who demand to be empowered.
This race was won not because the lack of racism but rather of a new phenomenon : selective racism. Obama won by a landslide in terms of race. The fact that there was such a landslide has to show that there must be a fundamental reason other than logic. The only logical answer would be racism, which can be seen by 95% of the black population voting for him. However he wasn't out voted by a land slide by the whites because of a simple reason. The amount of voters between the age of 18-39 which fits snugly into the target group of typical democrats : the young. These young voters who coincidentally are the very ones who undergo intensive anti-racism education. This is in line with the trend of increased votes for Mccain with the increase in age. Subsequently Obmama is also the epitome of what democrats are associated with : power to the minority. He has put himself in a position where the hispianics and other races can hold him as a symbol of empowerment while McCain being a typical white has to overcome the spotaneous symbol Obama has become. Though it is true that McCain should have been able to turn the tide in his favour but selecting Palin as his Vice mate but that has been proven to be a major Faux Pas. His choice of Palin , a governor with little credentials left more than a bad aftertaste amongst the tongue of female voters who had a taste of hillary clinton whom they hold as a REAL idol of femaledom. What McCain has done was create an effigy that showed a woman who allowed herself to be choosen for convinience and manipulated and her beauty created a disgust amongst woman voters who felt she misrepresented them as sex objects. Palin's lack of education and being a governor was another major bane in the entire race. Obama and Biden for all their flaws were both senators. With a hint of deja vu as Bush used to be a governor. This has thus resulted in woman looking at themselves as the minority and voted as such instead of deciding to vote for Palin though she is woman.
America under Bush has undergone major adversities such as the current financial crisis and other unpopular decisions such as the Iraq war. Though it is not in entirety fault he being the leader has to shoulder the blame. Thus McCain being associated with Bush would have led to natural disadvantages. This is a double blow as it also gives Obama an extra edge for the Americans who are now famous for voting not what is right but rather allowing emotions to do the voting as well as allowing themselves to make naive decisions. This is evident as they voted for Bush instead of Kerry. As mentioned the American economy is facing a year of difficulty rival to that of the depression. OBama would be the obvious knee jerk reaction. The Americans are desperately trying to undo the mess that Bush has created and Obama to them is the opposite of Bush due to Bush being republican and Obama, democrat. Obama has obviously targetted on such a fact which is in tune to his fiery speeches on change. He is feeding what the Americans wish to hear.
America has spoken be it for the best or otherwise they are stuck with Obama. On a personal note i believe when something is too good to be true it most likely is. Obama might have been cool throughout the entire race but that might have been because he is biding his time till he can come out with what would appeal to everybody. Alas all the world's a stage and politics is sadly a stage we all watch and where we allow it's actors to lead us.