The Policy Road Ahead: Post-Election

Overview

The 2008 presidential campaign provided the voters with a real choice on policy on a wide variety of issues. President-elect Obama now has the challenge of creating an agenda based upon those campaign promises and the diverse philosophy of his coalition in the toughest economic environment that any modern day incoming president has faced.

Control of the next Congress is now firmly in the hands of the Democrats. And, with six solid Democratic Senate pick-ups, even if the outcome of the three undecided Senate races all are decided for the Republicans, the reality is that on many issues the Senate will be close to filibuster-proof. However, even with the increased numbers, the plans of congressional Democrats will still have to face a determined GOP minority in the Senate that may be able to summon up enough votes to block legislation. As a result, congressional Democratic leaders were very careful in their post-election comments to rein in voters'