Do something. This was former First Lady Michelle Obama’s exhortation to Democrats last summer. It is now the collective demand of average Democrats despairing over the seeming inaction of their leaders. Into the breach jumped New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, once a young and up-and-coming phenom, and now a future senior statesman in a party that seems eager for new leadership. Over 25 hours, Booker broke the floor speech record long held by Senator Strom Thurmond, who bellowed for a day to block civil rights legislation in 1957.

More importantly Booker, 55, gave Democrats life, effectively making the case that he should lead their party in the Senate.