By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

The polls close in less than four days, with Barack Obama poised to become America's first black president. The mood of the country?

Democrats are eager and waiting to control the presidency after eight long years of George Bush.

Obama has some responsible plans on energy and foreign affairs to get the nation going in the right way again.

Republicans are resigned to losing, thanks in large part to a miserable campaign run by John McCain, topped by his pick of the unqualified Sarah Palin.

But if and when Obama becomes president-elect, reality will start to sink in for all Americans.

Obama, especially, will have to begin laying out plans for exactly how he's going to accomplish his goals -- especially with the help of a Democrat-dominated Congress.

Obama can't lose his fervor for bipartisan efforts to attack America's deep-rooted problems, especially when it comes to the economy.

And Obama will have to resist going along with the excessive spending plans being concocted by ultra-liberals such as Nancy Pelosi.

An Obama presidency is around the corner, but no one knows exactly what will happen when the prize is finally his.