There are moments in American history when the country knows that things have changed. This is one of those. Barack Obama has become the first African-American to win the presidential nomination of a major political party.
It's a profound development in a nation where the gulf between blacks and whites has been the defining divide since the first African slaves were unloaded at Jamestown in 1619. Yet America is still a place where whites and blacks still see life very differently.
Hillary Clinton was the first female candidate to make a credible run for a major party's presidential nomination. The next one will find the path easier. She stood tall in defeat Tuesday night.
The Internet became a major campaign tool for Obama, while Clinton's campaign miscalculated the country's mood.
A sluggish economy and an unpopular war should work against the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain. But Democrats are less than confident that their party can heal the primary battle's wounds.