Though an Obama victory was widely predicted by nearly all pollsters, there still was a sobering sense that history truly was made shortly after 11 p.m. last night when major news organizations declared that Barack Obama had secured enough electoral votes to become the next president.

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman described last night's historic election as the end of the Civil War. Friedman also noted Pennsylvania's prominent role as historical bookends— in the early, decisive battle at Gettysburg in 1863, and then last night when the Keystone state's 21 electoral votes went to Obama, putting him on a clear path to victory.

The historic nature of Obama's win also was evident in his remarks made in Chicago last night. Among the many he credited for his victory, he noted the power of the young people who joined his campaign and "rejected the myth of their generation's apathy." He also acknowledged that "government cannot solve every problem" and he called for a "new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility."

His candidacy was propelled by young people as much as any other group. And his election marks the passing of the torch from the Baby Boom generation, represented by Bill and Hillary Clinton, Al Gore and George W. Bush.

By all accounts, Obama's campaign was fueled by his soaring oratory, his intelligence and his cool demeanor. He also assembled an extraordinary political team that defeated the Democratic establishment and "Clinton Machine" in the Democratic primary.

And with public approval of the Bush administration at historic lows, Obama was able to amplify the normal tendency of the public to want to change after one party has controlled the White House for eight years. By capitalizing on the anti-Bush tide, Obama supercharged his message of change.

And added to all that, the financial crisis of the past six months, which could have erupted at any time, turned out to be something that Obama was able to use to his advantage. If the subprime mortgage crisis had not begun to unravel until now, the primary focus of the presidential campaign might have been the war in Iraq, as was predicted when the primary races began.

But as the financial crisis began to erupt and Wall Street began its frightening tumble, Obama was successful in suggesting that the economic troubles were the fault of Bush and the Republicans, despite the well-documented fact that many Democrats in Congress played a crucial role allowing the subprime mess to reach crisis proportions.

So, while Obama was thanking all those who helped him achieve his historic victory, he might have added a thank-you for greedy Wall Street investment bankers, irresponsible mortgage lenders and real estate speculators.

Obama is clearly a gifted speaker as well as a skilled and inspirational politician. Throughout the primary and general election, he demonstrated a steady focus, a cool demeanor and, when necessary, an ability to be pragmatic, even cutthroat, to achieve his ends.

Added to all his natural skills and the extraordinary effectiveness of his campaign organization with its army of dedicated volunteers, Obama was aided by the circumstances of a broadly rejected Bush administration and an economic crisis that revealed regulatory failures involving government and the private sector — as well as moral and ethical failures from Wall Street to Main Street that also extended to Capitol Hill.

Sen. John McCain's gracious conciliation speech last night reminded Americans of the finer qualities of the man who had served his country in remarkable ways and who had a history of bipartisan effectiveness, but who was doomed to fall to the energized Obama movement and anti-Republican tide.

And minutes after McCain offered his words of admiration and support to the president-elect, Obama spoke of reconciliation and inspiration — reciting over and over his campaign slogan, "Yes, we can."

If anyone can mend the fractious divisions in America, it might be Obama. It will not be easy, but his speech last night, with its tone of humility and calls for every citizen to join him in a patriotic quest to restore America's greatness, started things off on the right foot.

No doubt, his election will go a long way toward restoring America's status in the world. And that's particularly useful at a time when so many of the problems facing the United States are, in fact, worldwide issues — notably the financial crisis, environmental threats of global warming and the continuing threat of terrorism. And if those issues did not pose enough of a challenge, here at home the to-do list is topped by health care, renewable energy and a more fair and simplified tax system.

History was made last night. But the campaign is over and now is the time to look forward. Now reality awaits, and the hard work will soon begin.