I agree with some of Judette's points, especially the "unpopularity" of the Republican brand. I would say that there were a fair percentage of voters who voted not for Obama but against the Republicans. #4 I can say in one word: catchphrase. As for #s 3, 2, and 1; #s 2 and 3 came about mostly because of #1; the messenger. Obama is a charismatic person and a great orator. You can hear the influence that JFK and Dr. King had on him when he speaks. I won't compare him to those two just yet, but the potential is definitely there. A number of political pundits have said that McCain's ideals would be a lot more beneficial to Canada than Obama's, yet Canadians overwhelmingly preferred Obama. I believe it was because of the messenger, not the message.

As for the use of new technology, he's not the first to benefit from it. The Kennedy/Nixon debate was the first to be televised and many said that it turned the tide for JFK because of how the two leaders looked under the spotlight.

To continue, Judette stated that Obama may be the most charismatic orators of all times. He may be in contention for that title for our time, but let's not discount Roosevelt, Kennedy, King, or even Ronald Reagan or Congressman Henry Hyde. Even if you didn't agree with their message, their commitment to their cause was clear for all to hear, and you had to respect them for that. These men are all gone but their supporters and a lot of their detractors will tell that, to this day, listening to their greatest speeches will still give you chills.