Barack Obama’s sweeping victory on Tuesday was the biggest win for a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson’s in 1964. During the long campaign he made promises and offered positions in many areas, but the election wasn’t really about them. It was his theme of "change" that resonated with voters who were tired of the gridlock and finger pointing that have characterized so much of our recent politics. His challenge now is to deliver that change.

To enact his agenda, President Obama will have the largest congressional majorities for either party since the beginning of the first Clinton Administration. The next Congress will be much more Democratic than the one that is coming to a close. The party picked up at least 19 seats in the House and six in the Senate, with more likely following final vote counts and recounts.

The new President may get a longer "honeymoon" than most, due to historic nature of his victory. During this period he’ll be able to move at least a few big legislative packages that address important national concerns through Congress with little resistance – if he chooses carefully and moves tactfully.

What then? That’s up to the President, House Speaker Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Reid. The most memorable "change" that President-elect Obama promised was to reach across the aisle and end partisan divisiveness to solve our problems. In the House, the newly-enlarged Democratic majority won’t need Republican votes to pass almost anything they want. But Senate Democrats will likely fall short of their goal of reaching a 60-seat filibuster-proof majority. They’ll need to attract at least a few Republicans to end filibuster threats and get final votes on their priority bills.

Democratic leaders already have a long agenda of legislative priorities left over from the last Congress that they would understandably like to pass. But will Senate Republicans be likelier to go along next year than they were this year, at least after the honeymoon is over?

It’s up to the incoming President and Democratic congressional leadership to engage congressional Republicans in the policymaking process; they have both the power and the responsibility to get things done. If they make that effort they’ll almost certainly find enough willing partners to make major progress on education, energy, the environment, health care, transportation, getting the economy moving again, and much more.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is ready to be part of all of this. As U.S. Chamber President and CEO Tom Donohue said on election night, "As America turns the page, the U.S. Chamber shares with our fellow citizens the excitement of beginning a new chapter in our national life. We are a 'can-do' nation that can overcome all the difficult challenges that face us today. The U.S. Chamber has a long track record of successfully working with both parties and we are ready to go to work to restore economic growth, create jobs, and ensure that our businesses and workers can compete around the world."

There’s a role in this for all of us. Let’s get started.