Eileen and I will be hosting a small debate-watching party tonight in the Thomas St. apartment. Everyone I’ve spoken to this morning is waiting with bitten fingernails. We want so badly for Obama to do really, really well. The air is still with the anticipation, especially here in Chicago, where Obama buttons are on everyone’s backpacks and lapels.

I feel lucky to have lived to see a time of profound political engagement around a Democratic candidate. I was younger with Clinton, and I remember we were excited then, too – but this feels much more serious.