Obama won. Everyone is looking at him as the new Messiah. That's great for winning elections. But now he will also be the leader of the country, and the 'Messiah' image is his first disadvantage and his first challenge.
The 'Messiah' image is like a bubble: it's exciting and engaging, but it is an illusion. Reality is not simple and deep problems as wars, the environment and the financial crisis are not simple to solve. To be able to (help) solve them and lead people through the sacrifices they will have to make, Obama needs to lower their expectations as well as inspire them. He seems to be doing just that in his acceptance speech, and that is clever. More than clever, I believe it's vital. Otherwise, when the proverbial thing hits the fan, his supporters will tend to abandon him.
In the next few months, it will be interesting to monitor the reaction of the people who will start to understand that Obama cannot turn things into gold with a single touch nor bounce over tall buildings. The way he handles that disappointment will define his Presidency.