What experience?! Short time in the Senate, little serious legislation, "knee jerk liberal" voting history in the Senate, minor elected experience in Illinois. His strengths were best displayed as editor of the Harvard Law Review - reviewing others' well-thought out arguments and picking the ones that he approved of most. As for unity, the kind of thing that (unfortunately) unifies all the people is outrage, like 9/11. Feel good speeches and theme songs inspire at the moment, but the glow wears off. We need more than "I believe!", and "I hope". If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.