In a highly presidential fashion, democratic White House contender Barack Obama bought up thirty minutes of network TV time (on several stations, no less) to directly address the American public he hopes to win over. It was all very State of the Union - and incredibly politically savvy. But did his message strike a chord with viewers?

Replete with clips of Obama’s more moving speeches and statements from fellow Democrats along with high-ranking CEOs and others, the half-hour infomercial put Barack right into the living rooms of U.S. voters. There was no stage, there were no other candidates jockeying for position or good sound bites; there was no Sarah Palin or John McCain. It was, all in all, one of the best aspects of the entire campaign season thus far.

For those who watched the debates, Obama didn’t say a whole lot that felt brand-new. But for voters who may not know much about the man, he was clear, concise and direct in his plans for his presidency…should such a thing come to pass. With heavy emphasis on the economy, Obama laid out his very clear-cut plans for tax breaks, small business loans and the housing market crisis. He talked of stopping the country’s dependence on foreign oil and stared straight into the eyes of the camera.

Little vignettes appeared within the message, stories of everyday families (everyday voters) who are trying to make ends meet and find their way in a country which seems to be on the decline. Somewhere in the middle of the personal endorsements for the man, the step-by-step plans for his administration and the clips of rousing political speeches, Barack Obama’s message came through.

It was one of hope, one of change, one of a brighter future. And at the end of it all, I burst into tears. My emotion didn’t result from being moved by his words - though there was that - or because I believe his message - though that might be present, too. At the end of thirty minutes, I was gripped by a terrible fear that despite it all, he might still not win.

The Obama infomercial was one of the best personal endorsements I have ever seen; it was extremely well-done and seemed to hit close to home. But it was still a very political thing to do, however high-brow and classy. The overnights are in, and Barack scored big (he was almost guaranteed a cool 10 million viewers, considering the coverage and the time slot). Between CBS, FOX and NBC, 17 million sat down last night to hear what Barack Obama, the man who would be president, had to say.

Now, all we have to do is wait and see how John McCain will answer. (Shudder)