For all the column inches and speculation that attend changes to party leadership in the UK, in contrast with the selection of US presidential candidates our processes are relatively smooth and straightforward. With just over two years to go before the 44th President is inaugurated the American media have already washed their hands of the 43rd incumbent, turning their gaze on the main contenders in both parties and the subtle political winds that will determine which of them end up on the ticket for November 2008. With a deeply divisive Republican in the Whitehouse for the last 6 years the race for the GOP nomination is in many ways the more interesting one but that will have to wait for another post...
Illinois Senator Barack Obama yesterday confirmed he had drawn up papers to establish a Presidential Exploratory Committee - confirmation came via a video posted on his website.
We won't know for sure until February 10th whether Obama intends to run but the US media, both friendly and hostile, are all over him now with some rather predictable results. The prospect of the first black US president is bound to get lots of attention and there's some irony in the fact that the front runner for the nomination is currently a woman, Hillary Clinton - any shallow liberals who put store by such superficial things will have to decide if the first woman president is a more likely outcome (and the Republicans may go with Condi thus raising the prospect of both). Lack of experience is another angle some will use on Obama but that can cut both ways. With only two years in the Senate some may question the wisdom of a run this soon but since the other candidates already have some connection with or experience of presidential bids (Edwards ran against Kerry I think) it's far from clear if this inexperience will prove to be a blessing or a curse.
The JFK comparisons are already becoming tiresome but they're bound to continue - if elected he'd be 4 years older than Kennedy when he assumed the Presidency but their youth and telegenic appeal are bound to be compared. And if you need evidence of how absurd American politics can be (and why would you?) some commentators have even suggested the fact that his middle name is 'Hussein' may be an obstacle to election!
P.S. Granted there's no shortage of online resources for US politics but if you're interested I particularly recommend Oval Office 2008 - a London-based blog established by Daniel Owen.
Illinois Senator Barack Obama yesterday confirmed he had drawn up papers to establish a Presidential Exploratory Committee - confirmation came via a video posted on his website.
We won't know for sure until February 10th whether Obama intends to run but the US media, both friendly and hostile, are all over him now with some rather predictable results. The prospect of the first black US president is bound to get lots of attention and there's some irony in the fact that the front runner for the nomination is currently a woman, Hillary Clinton - any shallow liberals who put store by such superficial things will have to decide if the first woman president is a more likely outcome (and the Republicans may go with Condi thus raising the prospect of both). Lack of experience is another angle some will use on Obama but that can cut both ways. With only two years in the Senate some may question the wisdom of a run this soon but since the other candidates already have some connection with or experience of presidential bids (Edwards ran against Kerry I think) it's far from clear if this inexperience will prove to be a blessing or a curse.
The JFK comparisons are already becoming tiresome but they're bound to continue - if elected he'd be 4 years older than Kennedy when he assumed the Presidency but their youth and telegenic appeal are bound to be compared. And if you need evidence of how absurd American politics can be (and why would you?) some commentators have even suggested the fact that his middle name is 'Hussein' may be an obstacle to election!
P.S. Granted there's no shortage of online resources for US politics but if you're interested I particularly recommend Oval Office 2008 - a London-based blog established by Daniel Owen.
Labels: Politics
3 Comments:
I'm impressed by Obama but think, along with a compulsive gambler friend, that the US is not yet ready to vote in a black president, even one as good as this. However, neither are they ready to vote in a woman which rather leaves the field open.
There's a certain amount of specualtion [see my last post on it] that either of the front runners might lose in a head to head and so Gore is being trotted out by some again.
The Democratic candidates are very weak by comparison with the Republican challangers.
I can't see them winning in 2008.
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