Four more years !

So much for " Neck and Neck - Too close to Call ".    Obama won 303 Electoral College votes compared to Mitt Romney's 206.   That is a decisive winning edge, but when it comes to the popular vote the American nation was divided in opinion by just one percent - in Obama's favour.

This election also said something about demographics.    The Democrats swept home in the high density east coast, west coast and the populous state of Illinois with it's capital, Chicago.   The heartland states in the middle were a sea of red - favouring Romney, and this election will deliver a host of Republican governors that the White House will have to deal with.

The next four years will be critical for the American economy, and as a consequence - make or break for the world economy.   If America can break out of it's economic tail spin it can be the growth engine to recovery. That will depend if the Republican majority in the lower house can work with a Democrat president to find common ground and make the compromises that will be necessary to get a stalled economy moving again..

The past four years saw the Republicans try and unseat Obama at this election by imposing a blockade. of all proposed legislation.  They were uncompromising, but the situation has changed.   Obama is not facing reelection and there will be no incumbent to face off in 2016.   The hard right of Republican politics either softens and moves to the middle - or the party remains out of touch - and out of office.

The two sides of politics clashed over two basic issues.   Republicans vehemently refuse to even consider any taxation increases, and Democrats are equally firm that welfare entitlements remain unchanged.   Both will need to give ground.    The only way that crushing deficit can be reduced will require compromise on both sides of politics.

The days ahead will be critical as this election is examined and digested by the party leaders who decide policy.   Politics has always been divisive, but in the past a degree of goodwill prevailed and issues that were for the good of the country got partisan support across the divide.    It is essential that politics reach some sort of common ground on issues such as the ultimate fate of the undocumented that live in the country, how health insurance is handled and what sort of military posture American adopts with the rest of the world.

This election has delivered the people's choice.   Now if all depends on whether that signals a bright new beginning - or more of the same - for four more years !