5 reasons Obama won, 5 reasons Clinton lost ... and 5 differences between Obama, McCain

Chicago Tribune
June 4, 2008

5 reasons Obama won

1. He owned the word "change" when voters were fed up with the status quo. In a field of older, better-known candidates, he represented "the new."

2. He opposed the Iraq War when others were equivocal. The issue was a clear winner against Clinton, who had voted in 2002 to authorize the invasion.

3. His oratory was electrifying. While his early debate performances seemed halting and uncomfortable, he steadily improved. His stump speeches were assured, and he drew crowds as large as 75,000.

4. His campaign was better strategically and operationally, particularly in taking the long view and focusing on caucus states and primaries beyond Super Tuesday.

5. He won the Internet, notably in raising record amounts of money and building networks of supporters through non-traditional methods.