New York, November 10, 2008 – Folks at Glamour's Women of the Year Awards were clearly thrilled that Barack Obama won the presidential race.  Glamour EIC Cindi Lieve said that she considers the awards gala to be the most electric evening of the year, but that Tuesday’s election came pretty close!  Honoree Hillary Clinton said, “We had an incredible event last Tuesday with the election of our new to-be president Barack Obama, and it offers so much hope.” 

We wondered what fellow honoree Condoleezza Rice, a Republican, was thinking.  But the U.S. Secretary of State was gracious, and told the crowd that she loves America because nothing is ever impossible here.  “We overcome old wounds, as we did on Tuesday, to elect the first African American president of the United States. And for a little girl from Birmingham, that’s a special thing,” Rice said. 

Fergie opened up the ceremony with a performance, and later, Mary Steenburgen surprised her old friend Hillary Clinton – and all of us in the audience – by bringing out American Idol winner David Cook to sing.  Clinton quipped that the Idol alum garnered more votes than she did. 

Nicole Kidman, Tyra Banks, Dr. Jane Goodall and artist Kara Walker were among those receiving awards.  Presenters were a noteworthy bunch that included Salman Rushdie, Barbara Walters, Katie Couric, Natalie Portman and America Ferrera.