Obama's win: Two amazing aspects

It's really remarkable when you think about it.

Barack Obama's win in tonight's Iowa caucus is remarkable period, but when you consider two aspects of it, it's all the more remarkable.

He beat the 2004 Democratic vice-presidential nominee AND the former first lady.

Beating one of those two would have been accomplishment enough.  But both of them?

(below the jump)

In 2004, the Edwards campaign closed in the final days before Iowa with an electric atmosphere and he got 32% of the vote, later won South Carolina, and eventually was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.

Tonight, the facts will show, he garnered 30% of the vote.

For the past year (probably longer) Hillary Clinton, the former first lady and current Senator from New York who has the closest to 100% name recognition ever, had huge leads in polls nationwide and in most states.  She was crowned as virtual nominee a year ago and throughout most of 2007.

Tonight, the facts will show, she garnered 29% of the vote and finished in 3rd place.

And here's the real kicker:  

In August 2004, Barack Obama was a virtual unknown.  His speech at the Democratic National Convention which put forward John Kerry and John Edwards as our national ticket was his introduction to the nation.

He gave an electrifying keynote address to the convention as an Illinois state senator (who three months later was elected to the US Senate).

That amazing convention speech (when I said to myself, this guy could be president some day) was 3 years and 4 months ago.

And here he stands, a mere 40 months later, as the winner of the Iowa caucus who beat both the 2004 vice presidential nominee and the former First Lady of the US.

The facts will show Obama garnered 38% of the vote -- the same as John Kerry did in 2004, with Obama in a convincing 8-percent margin (Kerry's was a 6-percent win).

Obama is fond of referring to how unlikely his life has been in so many ways.

Tonight that observation continues to baffle the conventional wisdom.

To my knowledge prior to this evening, Obama and Clinton were tied in New Hampshire polls while Obama had a lead in South Carolina polls.

As an Obama supporter, I can only hope this remarkable ride continues with momentum propelling him to a win or at minimum a close second in New Hampshire and then a win in South Carolina.

We shall see . . .