It's Official now Obama leads the free world

[snaw]

I reckon he'll do it - McCain has had a free field for months, and plenty of chances to get stuck in and build up a decent campaign war chest and hasn't managed too (Money is crucial in these things) do either significantly. Plus he's got plenty of baggage as well.

As for the American heartlands - it'll be interesting, he doesn't do well amongst white working class people, or middle aged women but he does well everywhere else, and looks like he could mobilise the black vote - which is significant in the south where the Christian right have a disproportionate say in US politics - might counteract that - plus they're not exactly massive fans of McCain so might not even bother to turn out ...

His biggest problem to date has been his crazy ex preacher, but then again McCain has associations with some nutty preachers too so he'll need to draw a fine line.

I reckon either is good, but Obama would nudge it for me, and I think he'll get it - but it's way early days yet.

[Tensai]

Can't imagine much scares a man who spent over 5 years in a Vietnamese POW camp... linky

Makes Abu Ghraib [sp] seem a bit tame to be honest.

[sasguru]

I wouldn't like to be in Obama's Secret Service protection detail if he wins.
Every racist nutter in the US will be out to get him. Sad but true.

[TheBigYinJames]

Shoot!
He's white, ain't he?

A famous quote from near the end of the movie Trading Places springs to mind, which I won't repeat because it was made in the 80s when that word could still be used. I think it was Samuel L Jackson who said that the only time a black man will be president is just before some world catastrophe like Deep Impact.

So if he does get in.. beware....

[dinker]

I have money on McCain, a sure thing.

[wobbegong]

I wouldn't like to be in Obama's Secret Service protection detail if he wins.
Every racist nutter in the US will be out to get him. Sad but true.

Agreed, I think he'll be a target if it even looks like he might be in with a shout.

[oracleslave]

Agreed, I think he'll be a target if it even looks like he might be in with a shout.

Have you not seen 24 series 1?. Jack Bauer will sort everything in a day.

[wobbegong]

Have you not seen 24 series 1?. Jack Bauer will sort everything in a day.

Actually, no, I haven't see any of them (or any of the CSI's). Not my "bag" maaaan.

[Lucy]

Well in November of whenever they hold their elections over there.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7434791.stm

Can't wait for the Christian Right to get out their prams.

'Not worth listening to' - that is for f'ing sure.

[gingerjedi]

Have you not seen 24 series 1?. Jack Bauer will sort everything in a day.

I've only seen 24 series 4? The one where the Black president gets assassinated right at the beginning.

Good luck to the guy, you can’t tell me that out of 300m Americans the wife of a former president is the best person for the job?? It’s supposed to be a democracy not a bloody monarchy.