The election of Mr. Barack Obama as the next president of the United States of America has been characterised as one of many firsts. First African-American president, first rejection of public funding for the campaign, one of the longest and most expensive campaigns. On the occasion of the conclusion of the American presidential elections ELIAMEP organised a lecture with Mr. Rick Ridder, President and Co-founder, RBI Strategy and Research, Denver on “The changes brought by the 2008 US presidential elections”.