Today, I live in a blue state.

Indiana hasn't mattered in presidential politics in a long time. In my entire lifetime, actually. I spent a good number of years living in a blue state, so when I returned home, it was a bit of a shock. I wasn't treated like a leper, exactly, but an oddity, at the very least.

When the campaign started, I told some people, confidently, that Obama would win. The first few times I said it, it was like saying every April that the Cubs are going to win the World Series--false confidence. But the more time passed, the more it looked possible. When he won Iowa, I was certain, and I jumped into his campaign with both feet. I did everything that I had the time and resources to do because I had never been so inspired. I had always wanted my country to be better, but I suppose before Obama gave me push with his "We are the ones we've been waiting for," I wanted somebody else to make it so.

I worked hard in the late winter and early spring, leading up to the Indiana primary. Clinton was favored, and she did win. But barely. With his big win in North Carolina that same night, it felt like we'd pulled it out. The best part was that we'd developed a statewide field and volunteer organization in the process.

The campaign left, but not for long. They were back before the fourth of July and we never really stopped working, even while they were off finishing up the primary. And so the work began for November. It's grinding work, going door-to-door, talking to people. Some days, absolutely nobody is home. On good days, you catch 20% of the people on whose doors you knock. But it's the way campaigns are won. The Obama campaign understood this. I guess the McCain campaign did not.

So, we went about our business, registering voters and identifying supporters, in a state that had really never done it before. Most McCain supporters were pleasant when we knocked on their doors. A few were not. But we didn't let it get to us.

Most people couldn't believe that Indiana could ever possibly vote for a democrat for president, especially after going for Bush by 20 points in 2004. But we knew something they didn't, because we were the ones out talking to the people who actually live in Indiana. And something was in the air.

There were more bumper stickers. There were more signs. There was the delicate broaching of the subject with strangers and co-workers and even friends in casual settings, the relief to find that we were on the same side, and then the tidal wave of conversation about how exciting it all was.

Going into the final weekend, I was sick with nerves. It was close, the closest state in the country, in fact. We had the plan and we knew what we had to do. The question was, could we do it?

By now, you all know the answer--YES WE CAN!

It took a lot of help from our fabulous Chicagoland friends. Half the city and suburbs emptied into Indiana on Friday night and they didn't leave until about 2 pm yesterday. Our polls weren't closed yet, but we understood that they had a party to attend.

Going into election day, we were 1% down. The political experts say that a good ground game can make a 3 to 4% difference. Well, we tested that theory and found out they were right.

I've never been so tired and I can't remember the last time I was so happy. I've been walking around all day with a stupid grin on my face.

So, today I live in a blue state. But tomorrow, I won't. Tomorrow, I will live in one of the United States. Tomorrow, the work begins, and we all have to be a part of it.

But today, it feels so very good to be blue.