Obama had a 10:1 advantage over McCain because McCain didn't take public funds.
Obama said he would sit down with McCain and discuss the issue of public funds but he lied and decided to just take the money.
Obama had $750 M to McCain's $75 M. Certainly money was one of the main reasons Obama won. And that's why he'll lose this time...the GOP nominee will compete on a level field this time.
But didn’t everyone in the nation already know who McCain was? The guy’s been around for decades, was never media shy, etc.
I think Obama won simply because of the enthusiasm he generated on the campaign trail with his well-spoken message of hope and change (even if insincerely held) and people naively liked the idea of voting for the first African American president without questioning his message.
I understand that it took a lot of money to deliver the Obama propaganda but I think the public was ripe for it, and there was little that could be done by McCain and Palin to counter it.
Obama in many ways in history will be considered the Accidental President, and the public (I hope) won’t be twice-fooled by his rhetoric into electing him in the fall for a second term.