Today marks the 56th presidential election in the world's oldest democracy.

Once again citizens will participate in what political historian Theodore White called "the most awesome transfer of power in the world." Voters will give to one of two persons "the power to send men to kill or be killed, the power to tax and destroy, the power to guide and the responsibility to heal."

The 2008 campaign which started in the snows of Iowa almost two years ago may not end until early Wednesday morning, but we already know several positive things about this historic election.

Participation

We will stop being a "50 less" democracy - a nation where less than half of its eligible citizens cast a ballot.

The 2004 election reversed decades of declining involvement, and this year's new registration numbers and early voting indicate a historic level of civic engagement.

Youth voting

The longest distance in American politics is from the college campus to the ballot box. Voters under 25 years of age vote half as much voters over 60. Such statistics explain why politicians focus on the cost of Medicare medicine rather than college tuition. But that could change in 2008.

Interest level

This year both the convention speeches and presidential debates set viewing records. According to the Nielsen rating service, 61 percent of all American households have watched one of the debates so far, and fully 41 percent (68 million) viewed the vice presidential debate.

The Wesleyan poll (wvelection2008.com) recorded that half of the likely voters in West Virginia watched all three debates.

Negative ads

Compared to other recent elections, the 2008 campaign in general and television ads in particular have been less negative.

Once again citizens will participate in what political historian Theodore White called "the most awesome transfer of power in the world." Voters will give to one of two persons "the power to send men to kill or be killed, the power to tax and destroy, the power to guide and the responsibility to heal."

The 2008 campaign which started in the snows of Iowa almost two years ago may not end until early Wednesday morning, but we already know several positive things about this historic election.

Participation

We will stop being a "50 less" democracy - a nation where less than half of its eligible citizens cast a ballot.

The 2004 election reversed decades of declining involvement, and this year's new registration numbers and early voting indicate a historic level of civic engagement.

Youth voting

The longest distance in American politics is from the college campus to the ballot box. Voters under 25 years of age vote half as much voters over 60. Such statistics explain why politicians focus on the cost of Medicare medicine rather than college tuition. But that could change in 2008.

Interest level

This year both the convention speeches and presidential debates set viewing records. According to the Nielsen rating service, 61 percent of all American households have watched one of the debates so far, and fully 41 percent (68 million) viewed the vice presidential debate.

The Wesleyan poll (wvelection2008.com) recorded that half of the likely voters in West Virginia watched all three debates.

Negative ads

Compared to other recent elections, the 2008 campaign in general and television ads in particular have been less negative.

And they have been less sophisticated. Most ads of 2008 had the subtlety of a robo-call and the technique of a cable ad.

In their rush to reply (the so-called rapid response) each campaign has not made a memorable ad, unlike the "daisy ad" of 1964, the "revolving door" ad of 1988, and the "Swift Boat ad" of 2004 combining sophistication with negativity.

Rhetoric

In 2008, words once again became important in presidential politics.

However, as the campaign progressed, Obama went from wearing a suit and giving inspiring speeches, to taking off his suit coat rolling up his sleeves and reciting lists and giving sound bites. In effect he went from being John Kennedy to trying to be Bobby Kennedy.

Also important this year was McCain's use of town forum as a way to make direct contact with voters without the handlers or teleprompters.

Role reversal

Imagine a presidential election where the Democratic candidate raised more money, appeared more disciplined and stayed more focused than the Republican nominee.

During the 2008 election, McCain took on many identities. His roles went from military hero to Senate maverick to tax-cut advocate - and his message changed as well. In his campaign Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber became more recognizable than the candidate.

In contrast, Obama ran the most disciplined Democratic campaign in two generations. Out of the millions of words he uttered, he made one mistake, when he talked off the record about bitter voters.

One is reminded of Republican Warren Harding's successful campaign in 1920. One newspaper explained his landslide victory by noting that while his Democratic opponent, Ohio Gov. James Cox, traveled across the nation waving his arms and making proposals, Harding stayed calm.

While Harding's administration proved to be unsuccessful, his campaign strategy did not.

For at the heart of most presidential elections is who the voters trust when they participate in "the most awesome transfer of power in the world."