Barack Obama has convincingly won the Presidential election over his Republican opponent John McCain. The outcome of the election has given hope to not just the American people but also the world.

Obama is seen as a real symbol for change and as a result he has a lot to live up to. In his victory speech in his adopted hometown of Chicago he said change may not happen in a year, it may not even happen in one term. With this statement he is framing the expectations of the people so that do not expect too much too soon.

Following the American Presidential election from here in Australia was an interesting event. Everyone at work was talking about the election as if it was for our own political leader. I must say that people showed more interest in the US election than they did in the Prime Ministerial election last year.

Australians know that our country is closely linked with the fortunes of the USA. You only have to look at our stock market each day. If the US market shoots up so does ours, if the Dow Jones goes down sharply, guess what? So does ours.

Not that Barack Obama has become the President elect the world waits to see what he can do for the American people and the citizens of the world. It was noted in the concession speech by John McCain that he made no reference to the outgoing President George W Bush.

Bush will go down as perhaps the most despised President in history. Maybe only Richard Nixon could beat him for that honour.

I look forward to seeing Obama take office and what he brings to the Presidency of the United States of America.