The republicans lost the presidential ticket because of their inability to recognize the changing demographics in the American polity.Over the last decade or so, there has been a paradigm shift to more moderate views, as against the hard lined far right views which the republicans are known for. Most of the young voters seemed to have found their views outdated, and in this age where there is a lot of clamor for more human rights and freedom, it should have been expected that they would loose this election. This election was a tightly and keenly contested one, and kudos should be given to both men for having the patience to get to the end of this marathon.