And the idea that something like that couldn’t happen in Europe – I’m just not so sure about.
Merkel is not just a woman, but once divorced and without children. Her predecessor Schroeder was not just divorced several times but also openly atheist (and that never came up as an issue in any campaign). The designated leader of the (quite powerful) German green party is a 2nd generation Turkish immigrant.
Sarkozy is a Jewish son of immigrants from Greece and Hungary (in the US, his victory would definitely have been framed in racial terms, but given France’s peculiar history of dealing with race it has never come up). And I’m sure I could find more with a bit of digging. I’m all for celebrating Obama’s victory, but I find it quite repulsive to turn it into a reason for US triumphalism. Political opportunities in the US are extremely constrained. For any European observer the degree of dynasty families is mindblowing. Religion is still a serious issue. Gender is very constraining. All other ethnic minorities are very poorly represented. There are very, very few prominent openly gay politicians and I cannot think of a single lesbian anywhere. So – no, I think there is absolutely no reason for this odd feeling of superiority.

Where the US does pretty well – and better than large chunks of Europe – are opportunities in the economy. There are more women (and I imagine but don’t know more racial/ethnic minorities) in high level management positions, which has a lot to do with pretty effective anti-discrimination regulation that especially countries South of Denmark are doing a very poor job with.

In Europe women were elevated earlier, and had less to gain from associating with immigrant or racial causes.