History was made. Barack Obama has been elected to be the 44th President of the United States and the first African American President.

This is my favorite headline:

New York Times: Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls

It is amazing and history making, and this shouldn't be perceived as merely a Democratic win, but a change. Think about it: Obama embodies what this country is about, and what it was founded on. And change might be hard for some, but it won't necesarily be bad. This country needs a political shake up and hopefully Obama will remain true to himself, and not be beholden to merely political parties and factions. If he becomes beholden to one party and various factions, that will not help this country any, because all we will have is the same old problems with a new set of players.

I am glad it is over. I feel sorry for John McCain, because he is a great American. But it just wasn't his time. This changing of the guard should hopefully make the Republican party take a good long look at itself.

After all, look who survived? True moderates like Jim Gerlach. Yes, they are calling the 6th District Congressional Race for Jim Gerlach and I am very happy. I have been told this morning by my campaign sources that it is looking quite handy for Jim Gerlach - a projected win of 14000 votes in a Congressional district where there were some 30,000 new Democrats registered and one of the highest turnouts, the Congressman more than doubled his margin of victory. While I have not really commented much on other elections, I will comment on Gerlach's race. My comments, as a postmortem, cannot be construed as an endorsement once an election has been won by a candidate for office.

In Montgomery County (which contains Lower Merion obviously), Jim Gerlach will end up having attained 45% of the vote, and in 2004 he only got 42.5%....so he was +2.5% and Roggio was -2.5% from the numbers of Lois Murphy.

Jim Gerlach is a man that appeals to both sides of the aisle and that resonates with his constituency from both parties. Jim doesn't see Democrat or Republican when he talks to you, all he sees is one of his neighbors, one of his constituents.

Bob Roggio deserved to lose, quite frankly. The way he acted from jump when Jim Gerlach's mom died in May was rather prophetic as to how Roggio's race/campaign would be run and ultimately lost.

Jim Gerlach has remained in office because he is a moderate people believe in and trust. If the Republican Party is smart , they will wake up and smell the coffee at this point: Jim Gerlach is the future they need to strive for. Not Sarah Palin. We can't remain a country of political extremism if the democracy we love is to survive. Some way, some how, we have to find a middle ground and come together.

Now even President Bush was kind of moving today, the morning after. As Bloomberg reports:

President George W. Bush said the election of Barack Obama as president of the U.S. is a ``dream fulfilled'' for the civil rights movement and a victory for all Americans.

``No matter how they cast their ballot, all Americans can be proud of the history that was made yesterday,'' Bush in a statement from the White House. The election of the first African-American U.S. president is ``especially uplifting for a generation of Americans who witnessed the struggle for civil rights,'' the president said.

Here's the Potttown Mercury article on Gerlach:

Gerlach retains 6th District seat by By Michael Hays,

In other news, State Representative Daylin Leach will now be known as State Senator Daylin Leach, and I hear Tim Briggs is our new State Representative.

Democrat Leach leads in bid for state Senate
The former Assembly member was helped by the large turnout in Montgomery County.
By Derrick Nunnally
Inquirer Staff Writer

UPDATE:
As per the link on the Delco times website:

SENATOR IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 17th:Democrat Daylin LEACH WINNER

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 161st District: Bryan LENTZ WINNER

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 166th District Greg VITALI WINNER

REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY 165th District William F. ADOLPH JR. WINNER

And from Montgomery County's website (please note candidates who cross county lines will not be repeated):

Representative in the General Assembly Dist. 148 Mike GERBER WINNER

Representative in the General Assembly Dist. 149 Tim BRIGGS WINNER

Representative in the General Assembly Dist. 194 Kathy MANDERINO WINNER

One election thing I found distasteful, and ironic coming out of California was California Voters approving Propostion 8, which in effect banned gay marriage in California. Once again I scratch my head. Why? I look at it this way: it's not affecting my life and if people choose to commit their lives to each other, who are any of us to judge?