In the four major polls in the U.S. Obama is leading McCain, the margin ranging from 4 to 8%. What is certain is that history will be made when the winner is announced in November. In Britain, the media coverage has made it seem like Obama has it in the bag. Why this seems to be the case is obvious - Obama is making history. Who would have thought seven years ago that the U.S. public would allow a person with the first name Barack run for President? Who would have thought that a black man could grab the hearts and minds of Americans far and wide? The potential of having a female President was quite something, but a young, inexperienced black man?
(Please note: I write this in order to try and convey the extraordinary happenings in America.)
But even though this piece of history is hitting the headlines over here in Britain, the race has not been won yet.
This hit the media hard a number of days ago when Sarah Palin was announced as McCain's running mate. A bold move, and one that has bumped McCain right back up there in the race to become President. Palin seems confident, able, and certainly up for the fight! (See this BBC snippet, for example.) It is yet to be seen whether this bold move will work for McCain. There has been a lot of talk about Palin's private life, her son with Downes Syndrome and her teenage daughter's pregnancy. But are these issues enough to spoil it for the McCain/Palin campaign? If we are talking real life, then they shouldn't... but we're talking politics, not everyday life.
McCain's speech at the Republican National Convention wasn't dynamic. He will clearly lose every oratory battle with Obama who has far superior rhetorical skills. But for the time being, the McCain/Palin campaign has managed to put some distance between themselves and the Bush administration, and at the same time has stolen the limelight from Obama's Clinton laid red carpet.
1 comment:
I love this presidential race. It has be to the most diverse race I've experienced in my short life. Questions remain about both parties - the Americans I have spoken to have reservations in regards to the Democrats about someone with such comparatively little experience in Obama. But then, in regards to the Republicans, were the extreme case of McCain being incapacitated in some way to happen, could Palin step up to the plate and run America? Intriguing, and I'm glad I don't have that decision to make.
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