What If Obama Loses?

What happens if Barack Obama loses the presidential election in November? I know that the very idea is as ridiculous as thinking that the New England Patriots could lose the Super Bowl after 19 straight victories, but what if? Exactly what would such a scenario mean? It would, in a nutshell, mean the end of the Democratic Party as a national party for at least a generation.

I understand that that is a bold statement, but consider the facts. The Republicans have a sitting President only slightly more popular with the American people than Osama Bin Laden. Fuel and food prices are at record levels with no relief in sight, and the number of home foreclosures rivals the rate seen during the Great Depression. And against this backdrop, consider the Republican nominee who will face Obama in November.

In an election when the most common word is "change," the Republicans have nominated a true Washington insider. John McCain may be a maverick at times, but he is definitely part of the establishment, so change is not a word he can credibly employ. It is also likely that no one is more surprised than McCain that he is his party's nominee; this time last year he was out of money and firing campaign staff because he couldn't pay them. The fact that most Republicans, especially ultra-conservatives, aren't happy with him as their standard-bearer only adds to the difficulties his campaign faces.

Now consider the Democrats' position. America is ready for change, from an end to the Iraq War to energy independence, and Barack Obama is about nothing but change. The Democrats have control of both houses of Congress, and for more than a year a Democratic victory in the Presidential election has been a foregone conclusion. That it was assumed the candidate would be Hillary Clinton makes no difference now; the aura of inevitability has shifted to Obama. For the first time in years the Democrats have more money than the Republicans, and polls have shown Obama beating McCain for months now. Even most Republicans don't really expect McCain to win.