Barack Obama campaigns in Roanoke, Va., in October. He won over a good share of white voters, even in longtime Republican states like Virginia, which hadnt voted Democratic in more than 40 years. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Obama boards his campaign plane in Richmond, Va., in October. Refusing to concede that the U.S. political landscape was set in stone, he campaigned extensively in states that President Bush had won. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Obama regularly drew rock-festival-size numbers to campaign events like this October rally in St. Louis. Detractors criticized his celebrity status and suggested there was no substance behind his stirring speeches, but the enthusiasm he generated translated into votes in the end. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images)
Obama addresses a crowd in Fort Collins, Colo., in October. Latino voters helped him prevail over John McCain in Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Nevada all states that Bush had won. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)
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Obama and his wife, Michelle, share a moment onstage at his victory rally on election night. More than 240,000 people, many tearful, joined them at Grant Park on Chicagos waterfront to mark his historic victory. (Emmanuel Dunand / AFP/Getty Images)
Vallary McDaniels of Inglewood watches President-elect Barack Obama’s victory speech with others at L. Tolliver’s Barber Shop in South Los Angeles. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
Obama campaign volunteers Kristin Bungart, left, Francesca McCaffery, right, and Erin Finley react to the news in Los Angeles as East Coast polls close. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Natasha and Omar Shakur join the party in Los Angeles’ Leimert Park. Passing drivers in the neighborhood honked horns as passengers cheered, raised fists and made thumbs-up gestures. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
