we didn't know he was going to advance neolib policies then. landslide electoral college victory. united the tent on a "move on from George W. Bush disaster" platform including universal healthcare (fail) and more. also was first black candidate that didn't get completely torpedo-ed in the primary (like Jackson's Rainbow Coalition in 1988).

he also won Iowa and was competitive in New Hampshire (which changed his fortunes in the South who was heavily with Clinton before).

50-state strategy that was aimed at the working class primarily.

2008 Obama was LeBron James, Kobe, and Michael Jordan all combined as a candidate as far as how rare he is.