Editors' Note:

And so we come to the end of it all. The roar of the greasepaint, the smell of the crowd, the sound bites, the flag factories and the cheap shots will all soon be behind us. Ahead of us will be either Continued Peace and Prosperity or The Best America That Has Yet to Come. Presumably, that is.

We here attempt to cast at least a few points of light on a process that only a very few very important consultants understand. H.L. Mencken once said that the only way a journalist should look on a politician is down. We tried.

But please remember that tomorrow gives you your only chance in four years to do anything about the identity of the President besides disparaging it at the dinner table. In addition, the student vote does matter in Massachusetts legislative and statewide races. Do us all a favor and check the chart at the center of this issue, then get out and cast your ballot.

See you in the new era.