The race for the Democratic Party's ticket at the next American presidential elections is assured a place in history. In this normally conservative country, there will for a first time be either a woman or an African-American on the party ticket.
Illinois Senator Barrack Obama is that African-American, and he has taken the country by storm, forming a coalition for change that cuts right across America's social fabric. This weekend, ahead of the Super Tuesday block of caucuses and primaries the Senator was campaigning in Minnesotta where a large community of Kenyans abroad live. He was received with rapturous applause (not in the least by the Kenyan contingent) and with such passionate adulation that it was not always clear who was the spectacle the attractive dynamnic young man who could soon become the most powerful man in the world or his supporters, crying, and cheering in his presence. Latest polling is inconclusive as to who would win the Super Tuesday vote. A poll for the Washington Post and ABC has the New York Senator Hillary Clinton ahead of Obama with 47% of the vote against his 43%. A Pew Research Centre poll has Clinton 8 points ahead of Obama with 46% to his 38%.
Overall, the Illinois Senator seems to have the momentum, even with Senator Clinton ahead. Pollsters report that an increasing number of respondents are unhappy about the possibility of Bill Clinton returning to the White House and effecting what would be in effect a co-presidency. Obama also seems to be enjoying the bulk of the fallout from the dropping out of Senator John Edwards and is showing a healthy vote even in areas that were previously thought of as Clinton zones like New Jersey where he has narrowed the gap to a mere 7%, and Arizona (large Hispanic population) where the polls give the candidates a 43% to 41% rating, advantage Clinton.
The Clintons continue to play hardball with Obama, with Hillary accusing him of giving in to the health and pharmaceutical industry apropos the Medical Insurance question, and misrepresenting the truth with regard to matters of diplomacy. She further alleges that he is not strong enough to survive the vicious attacks that will be due on cue from the Republican party, once the campaign proper starts. Meanwhile, the Illinois Senator continues to chalk up high profile endorsements. Latest reports indicate another member of the Kennedy clan, California governor Arnold Schwarznegger's wife Caroline Shriver has endorsed him, adding to the support he has received from Caroline Kennedy and Sanator Ted Kennedy. Perhaps more significant is the endorsement of the powerful MoveOn.org website (whose members voted in his favour by a margin of 70% to 30% for Senator Clinton) the Los Angeles Times editorial page, the USA's most powerful union the Service Employees International Union and the Unite Here union which represents hotel, restaurant and apparel workers.  |  |  |  | | Barack Obama at the Target Center in Minneapolis. Photos courtesy of N. Jeanne Burns. | |
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I only worry about Bill's aggression, but can count on the majority of Americans tired of extremes and dividing the country into blue and red states.
Maybe they finally have grown up to realize divisive politicking is not good for life. I find Hillary very entertaining when she talks of experience. I am at a loss when it comes to pointing the experience? Is it as first lady? So Laura Bush can also claim Political experience after George steps down?
I am also counting on Obama's personability. Clinton comes off as not being real, granted all of them are peddling lies on what they will or will not do, Obama looks and sounds believable, Clinton looks coached with a fake laugh, the kind that does not originate from the heart!
Just to say, I am giving my opinion free of the idea that 'Obama will save Kenya', but rather as a Kenyan-American.