Justin Webb's America

Democrats' delicate dance

• Justin Webb
• 5 Feb 08, 10:49 PM GMT

As voting goes on, I offer this in support of those who are queasy about Barack Obama. They may be wrong but they have a right to be heard!

And on the Hillary side of the Democrats' delicate dance, an issue that surfaces intermittently but never quite gets the attention it deserves - the "first Laddie" business.

Mike Huckabee is still the wittiest of the candidates, musing as he cast his vote: "Now, who should it be..."

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Potential outcomes

• Justin Webb
• 5 Feb 08, 04:51 PM GMT

Too much verbiage already on potential Super Dooper Tuesday outcomes: if you have limited time or (like me) attention span this article is good.

And someone has drawn my attention to the fact that 'Republicans for Obama' already has a British outpost though I see more recently the Conservative leader has fallen in with the McCain march. I love the idea in this piece that Barack or Hillary will be miffed by the Cameron decision to go with McCain: oh dear, we Brits do attribute importance to our little island that I fear does not quite tally with reality this side of the pond.

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Republicans for Obama

• Justin Webb
• 5 Feb 08, 04:11 AM GMT

How much of Barack Obama's support over the next few hours will come from Republicans? Not from Independents. Not from Waverers. Not from Undecideds. No, I mean from previously red state enthusiasts.

I know Republicans who are seriously impressed with the Illinois senator, not because they fear his political acumen but because they think he might be a good thing. Part of it comes I think from their hatred of Hillary but there is more to it than that. Colleagues in the British media sensed the same thing last year, though it was rather forgotten in the general acceptance of the "Hillary is inevitable" myth.

But "Republicans for Obama" are an interesting and significant force and perhaps deserve their own bumper stickers and all the recognition that goes with them.

How else do you account for the behaviour of Bill Bennett - the talk show host and one time Reagan cabinet member - in recent appearances on CNN: Bennett can barely disguise his admiration for the man, as I see others have noticed.

Finally what are the surprises to watch for as much of the nation goes to the polls?

Conventional wisdom is that the Republicans will back McCain overwhelmingly and the Democrats will fight on. But might Romney use a surge in California (which some polls have picked up) to turn things around?

And on the Democrats' side, conventional wisdom is that the Clinton early voting effort - postal ballots - will hold off any late Obama surge. But here is another view, which by Wednesday may have become the new conventional wisdom...

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