Well, it has been too long. Finally, I feel ready to post. So here goes...
The American elections are next week. Barack Obama looks like he is going to win, and win big. He must have quite a big lead to take 3 days of the campaign trail to visit his sick grandmother.
John McCain can try everything, from sleaze remarks to attacks associating Obama with terrorists, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Even Sarah Palin is starting to seem too radical (which she is), and her positive effect on the campaign has turned into a huge negative. Back to Alaska for her, methinks...
Many news agencies are already predicting an Obama win by the number of states that he will win. Many are still leaving 80+ electoral college votes uncounted as they are undecided states. Obama still has over the magic 270 anyway. So no cause for concern?
Well, a week is a long time in politics. Obama could still do something stupid (but it is highly unlikely). Only a major international diplomatic incident could see some swing back to McCain. Some people talk of an effect of people saying they will vote Obama, then voting the other way in the voting booth. I think this will happen, but not enough to wrestle the result away from Obama. The electoral map will be different to usual, but not as weird as it was once thought it might be.
I predicted months ago that a Democrat would win the White House. I thought it would be Hilary, but she had been foiled. A change is probably what is on order, as like in Britain, America is ready for a change after a prolonged period of one party. What Obama does with his first 100 days will be key, and highly interesting. The world is watching you, Mr Obama.
