Decades from now, when the next generation of presidential historians reflects and dissects Nov. 4, 2008, will the true impact of Sen. Barack Obama’s ascendancy to the American presidency truly become known?

The common expectations of what Americans expect, fear, support and desire in a president were swept away by the rising blue tide across cable television’s science-fiction-inspired interactive electoral maps on election night.

And in this political culture fattened on insta-punditry, the scope of Obama’s victory is beyond fast-food analyses. Gauging its implications on race, politics, society, and America’s status in the world is best left to history.

That said, this sentiment stems from one transformational figure, President-elect Obama. Yet across America, many Democratic candidates rode Obama’s coattails into electoral successes of their own.

Nary a Republican survived in New England, for example, save Sen. Susan Collins.

These successful candidates were ably assisted, as well, by the least popular president in several decades residing in the White House for the next 70 days or so.

Voters have placed their hope and faith in Obama. They also delivered a mandate to Democrats on the whole to come and fix things. Be careful what you wish for.

Obama is the breakthrough. A Democratic majority – which has been seen before – is not.

In fact, their success in this historic election only means they have more to prove.

This is true in Maine, where the legislative balance of power has shifted even more strongly toward Democrats.

Upset victories by Democrats Deb Simpson of Auburn for the Senate and David Van Wie of New Gloucester for the House are two examples of this change.

Their successes in formerly Republican-held districts – and by paper-thin margins – indicate they benefited from strong Democratic energy and turnout, inspired by the top-floor presence of Obama and sub-basement satisfaction with current GOP management.

They were also strong candidates, to be sure. But this was, more than anything, the Democrats’ year.

But a Democratic majority in Maine’s government is commonplace. The energy and enthusiasm for the party, rooted in Obama’s transcendent campaign, has only allowed for strengthening of their numbers.

And the raising of our expectations, in an atmosphere of great difficulties.

In Washington, there is an economic crisis to reverse. Wars to end. In Maine, Gov. Baldacci soured post-election euphoria Wednesday by calling for immediate curtailments of state spending, as revenue trends southward.

These are significant issues to overcome, for any political party in power.

In his victory, Obama has proven much about his character and this country’s character. It merits adjectives better than historic to describe. Leave it to historians to decide them.

But the Democratic Party as a whole hasn’t proven anything yet.

And history is now poised to judge them, too.