“To all those who have wondered if America’s beacon still burns as bright— tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. For that is the true genius of America—that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.” —Barack Obama Celebrating his presidential victory in Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois, November 4, 2008 “Essential reading for anyone wishing to try to make more sense of contemporary American presidential politics and social policy. Highly recommended.” —Stephen K. Shaw in Library Journal “A thoughtful look at what Obama’s candidacy means.” —Booklist
