John McCain won in South Dakota, but after this election many political analysts say Republicans have their work cut out for them. 

That was one of the topics at Wednesday's Augustana Thought Leader Forum in Sioux Falls, where two government professors hashed out election results and what's in store for the Obama administration. 

It's been an exciting time for Brent Lerseth and Joel Johnson to teach political science in South Dakota. But now that the election is over, the speculation on what the future holds for Barack Obama is just beginning. 

Augustana Government Professor Joel Johnson says, "There are no shortages of challenges, he's got skills, advantages. He's got a democratic congress, but that doesn't ensure things will go easily. The Republicans have controlled presidency and Congress and yet they weren't able to get much done. And so we'll see if democrats are more unified and get things passed part of Obama agenda." 

South Dakota hasn't given its electoral votes to a Democrat in 44 years. In 2004, President Bush got 60 percent of the vote. But Barack Obama made significant strides in the state netting 45 percent of the vote. 

Johnson says, "Even South Dakota; it was closer than it might have been. It took a while to call the state. It was out there for a while, longer than I thought it would be." 

Johnson says voters sent Republicans a loud and clear message in this election. 

Johnson says, "The Republican party has to extend beyond its rural base, go into cities more has to go across ethnic and racial lines better than past. It probably will see new generation, younger generation of rep leadership coming to foreground now. Maybe in 8 years, 4 years, 16 years, we'll see the Republicans resurgence and be able to redevelop their party." 

Johnson says Republicans will either have to move more to the middle or more vigorously defend their core principals.