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Obamabacklash - and John McCain: Beauty Queen?

  • Justin Webb
  • 29 Jan 08, 09:57 PM GMT

Washington DC: Apologies to those who think this blog is too tough on the Senator from Illinois - I do think he tends to get a rather adoring press. Perhaps he deserves it!

But perhaps not. Is there a risk that Mr Obama has flown a little close to the sun? This strikes me as the potential beginning of an Obamabacklash amongst the educated classes who like the guy, but...

Regarding the Kennedy endorsement: surely Caroline was the big story here? She usually stays above the fray, backing only the eventual candidate, so her words carry some weight.

As for Ted: plenty of weight but a lot of it is - well - baggage. "Si se puede, porque El Ted lo dice" (Yes we can, because Ted says so), is an unlikely slogan, according to the witty and sceptical take of the London Times.

And on to this evening in Florida where, to please the Ron Paul millions (trillions?) and to show that this blog gives no special treatment to elderly war heroes, I would like to draw attention to the following advert.


The world's view

  • Justin Webb
  • 29 Jan 08, 12:25 AM GMT

WASHINGTON DC: So the Kennedy magic is sprinkled on the senator from Illinois. Thinking about Barack Obama and watching him at work in the last few days, I find myself wondering if he and the other candidates (Republicans as well), even the Clintons in their way, have already achieved some of the change they desire, some of the bright new start they promise.

Mike HuckabeeMany Americans hope that this election will alter worldwide perceptions of their nation - many foreigners, friends of America put off by the Bush years, hope the same thing. Wait till January 2009 they say: help is at hand. But look at the vigour of the process this year, the unique openness, the stunning setbacks and comebacks, the media being caught out so badly in New Hampshire, the Obama rallies, Bill's bulging eyes, Huckabee's fascinating recalibration of the evangelical message from hellfire soon to milk and honey now (and no income tax to boot) etc etc etc.

How can the outside world, how can reasonable people anywhere, not be impressed with the choices and the seriousness with which millions of Americans have now taken those choices? I offer two recent commentaries from the UK. The first was written before New Hampshire and contains a lot of intellectually lazy nonsense about the BBC (supercilious - moi?) but is a really interesting early take on the relevance of the last month to the British experience of politics.

The second is a more personal attack on me from the opposite standpoint but also - again more interestingly - an attempt to make the case for regarding this presidential process as being utterly bogus.

For my money the first take makes some sense; the second, this year of all years, is a mighty difficult argument to follow.

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