Some US Politics Thoughts
I began supporting Barack Obama back when he was still an underdog to Hillary Clinton in the primaries, so of course I'm delighted that he appears to have captured the nomination. As a Democrat, I'm further delighted that the congressional Republicans are losing once-safe seats in places like Mississippi, Louisiana, and suburban Illinois. This bodes well for November, as most analysis I read predicts increased Democratic majorities in both the House and Senate. Large majorities combined with a Democratic president could mean a lot of interesting legislative changes.
Some questions remain though before we coronate Obama as the 44th President. Can he win over Clinton supporters who vow never to vote for him? Will he receive Hillary's full endorsement even if he refuses to include her on the ticket? Will he be a victim of the Bradley Effect: in which voters vote against him on racial grounds despite refusing to admit it? Can he define McCain as a representative of Bushism rather than a repudiation of it? Will he chip away at McCain's considerable advantage in media relations by making his campaign more accessible to reporters? Will he resist the "balanced ticket" myth by choosing a running mate who reinforces his strengths rather than counterbalances them?
Friends from foreign countries find America's endless presidential campaigns mystifying, but the next few months will be very telling.
