I think Obama won for many reasons:
Sure, he may have got some votes because it stopped African Americans having the excuse of their colour not to achieve, but Oprah also has that honour and many other Actors, Doctors, Lawyers, Comedians etc etc.
He is:
Clean
Young
Handsom
Has a lovely looking family
Some one who people could be proud to say that he represents their country
Well spoken
As Mc Cain kept repeating (supposedly as a negative) he does not know how they play the game
He is believable
and
Intelligent
And little boys having temper tamtrums should be sent to their room with no supper, not given a microphone
To quote an intelligent American
from http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2008/12/barack-obama-ma.html
"
My name is Chip Saltsman
Vote for me for the RNC
I have a song inside my head
Where my brain used to be
Satire by James Flannery, 2008
please distribute freely