Summary
So, in summary, this is a comfortable victory for Obama and a strong mandate but it's not a landslide. If the Democrats want to pass legislation they still have to get it through the Senate, where they lack the supermajority to prevent filibustering.
Having said that, four Senators have yet to be announced and there are two independents. So if the Democrats end up with 58 Senators they only need to "persuade" two others to achieve the magic 60.
Additionally, let's not forget that Obama will be coming into power on 20th January 2009 with the US having amassed over $10 trillion in national debt and with Bankageddon still far from over.
Meanwhile, George W. Bush is a "lame duck" President and the Democrat congressional majority will not want to let him do anything constructive; and Obama now has to manage expectations down from the messianic high that got him elected.
So while, for the moment, high hopes for change prevail, don't hold your breath.
