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Recent debates and commentaries publicly questioned whether a black man could be a leader for all people in the nation’s capital. Would inexperience hamper his role? There was no precedent. Would he be followed by a racially mixed society with historic divisions? Blacks had demonstrated their athletic abilities, but how about management, interpersonal politics? What basis was there to think he might make change happen after so long a time? Would rock-star fascination with the public translate into the leadership in the tough cauldron of reality?

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Michael Gerson in the Tuesday Washington Post got it half-right: Occupy Wall Street was a big 2012 winner by defining the narrative that others ran on. Yes! You read it here first, long ago. Gerson then fell into the rightist trap claiming Obama wants to end capitalism. Nope! Too much rightist brew for Gerson. Occupy Wall Street was indeed a huge 2012 winner, defining the narrative of the winning party, while the discredited Tea Party crashed, Sarah Palin is reduced to marginal opining, Elizabeth Warren emerges as a champion, Romney's 47 percent insult was defeated by Occupy Wall Street's 99 percent inspiration and the resurgent Ron Paul leads the battle for the allegiance of young voters.

Aside from the election for president, in my humble opinion the Massachusetts Senate race is by far the most important election in the nation, and may well be the most important Senate election in a generation. If Elizabeth Warren is elected on Tuesday our national politics and the interests of voters in Massachusetts will be lifted by the most powerful, authentic and courageous voice for fairness and integrity that Washington has witnessed in many years. If Elizabeth Warren is defeated by an opponent who has attacked her heritage and even her intellect with ads paid for by bailed-out bankers abusing millions of people on their credit cards and mortgages and bank fees, it would be an epic disaster for women, workers, consumers, seniors and the poor.

Big news from Nebraska: Former Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel is endorsing Bob Kerrey for the Nebraska Senate seat in a dramatic move that will give a new boost to the surging Kerrey campaign. As long-term readers of my column know, I have always been a very big admirer and supporter of Chuck Hagel and consider him one of the most honorable leaders in public life in my lifetime. I would support Hagel for any elective office he seeks and any appointed office under any president wise enough to name him. Chuck Hagel's willingness to cross the aisle and support Bob Kerrey should give Kerrey a significant boost among moderate Republicans and political independents.

One valuable way for voters to judge candidates is to observe how they are regarded by those who know them best. By this standard Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.) passes the test with flying colors. Her fellow members of the House of Representatives proved their respect for her by giving her a seat on the powerful and coveted Ways and Means Committee. Her peers in the business community proved their respect for her when they made her the chairwoman of the board of the Nevada Hotel and Motel Association and the national director of the American Hotel-Motel Association. Her constituents in the 1st congressional district demonstrated their respect by giving her strong support for reelection to the House and for her campaign this year for the Senate.

Recent polling from Nebraska suggests that former Democratic Sen. and current Democratic candidate Bob Kerrey is surging and within reach of one of the great comeback victories in his race for the Senate seat in Nebraska. This is great news. Kerrey is one of the great men in public life, a true American hero, a leader with enormous respect and credibility across the political aisle and a leading job creator and fiscal conservative with a conscience. Kerrey created a hugely successful business and could teach Mitt Romney lessons about how to create American jobs the right way, after serving our country as a Navy SEAL and being awarded America's highest commendation, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Imagine a new United States senator who is a Hispanic who was born into poverty, endured the suffering of homelessness, experienced the pain of child hunger, dropped out of high school, volunteered for the United States Army, applied to the Special Forces, served in Vietnam, was highly decorated with Bronze Stars and Purple Hearts for his bravery and valor, achieved a high school equivalence degree, worked as a registered nurse, earned his college degree, served as a detective and deputy sheriff, attended medical school and graduated at the top of his class, became a widely respected physician, was named by a Republican president to be surgeon general of the United States, was confirmed by a unanimous vote of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate, and now runs for the Senate from Arizona with support from Clintons and Goldwaters alike!

The Hill’s A.B. Stoddard and Alex Bolton break down the latest developments in Senate races with less than two weeks until the elections.

Elizabeth Warren is one of the most exciting and uplifting Democratic candidates in many years. She is the voice of workingmen and -women, the champion of consumers and homeowners and the fighter for fairness for American heroes who wear the uniform, as well as their families at home. Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock will leave a different legacy in this election: They dramatize the Republican problem with women, and the Republican problem with rape.

Where stand you on the Indiana Senate race?