The race for the Democrat Presidential nomination is over. Barack Obama has seen off Hillary Clinton, a distinct impossibility five months ago. Many would have liked to see her in the White House where she once served as the country's First Lady. That she was beaten by a comparative unknown, with very little experience, but an articulate, intelligent and appealing man for all that, black with a white mother, provides the world with a striking example of the fulfilment of the sometimes derided American dream.
Senator Obama put himself forward as the apostle for change. Americans watched his progress from "the snows of Cedar Rapids to the sunshine of Sioux Falls". They liked what they saw and heard, as they did his references in his victory speech to "that band of patriots who declared in a Philadelphia hall the formation of a more perfect Union"; to "the Greatest Generation that conquered fear itself and liberated a continent from tyranny"; to "every generation that faced down the greatest challenges and the most improbable odds". This style of oratory and an obvious intelligence struck a chord.
Now he faces John McCain for the Presidency. He must regret his slow disassociation from his pastor, who was heard across the States declaiming that "God damn America" sermon; as he must some airy-fairy remarks on foreign policy. For nothing was so egregious during his campaign than his declared readiness to hold unconditional talks with the most volatile and dangerous heads of state in the world, some of whom are sworn and undying enemies of the US.
If Pope Benedict can carefully avoid meeting the President of Iran, who continues to tout for the destruction of Israel as a state, Mr Obama would be wise to follow his example. If he must meet President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it can only be after certain conditions and concessions are agreed to in advance. He has since back-tracked, after a fashion, from a gaffe that threatens to haunt him all the way to the November election. A fortnight ago he was still claiming that Iran did not "pose a serious threat to us", only to tell a crowd the next day that he had "made it clear for years that the threat from Iran is grave". Quite.
If Mr Obama is carrying some heavy baggage at the end of his titanic tussle with Mrs Clinton - and on the matter of dealing unconditionally with Iran and North Korea, Syria and Cuba he is, as well as on the burning question in America of partial-birth abortions of which he is in favour - he seems to know his onions when it comes to Israel.
He described the country as "our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy... we must preserve our total commitment to our unique defence relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance" and multi-billion dollar systems to help Israel "deter missile attacks from as far as Teheran and as close as Gaza". This puts him in the Israeli camp so firmly that it is likely Teheran may now refuse to meet Mr Obama unless he reconsiders this assistance!
Mr Obama started off as a juvenile in this vital area of governance. His learning curve will need to be swift. Whether he will convince the country that he has learned remains to be seen but he will receive much barracking before then.