by Alex Samson

Created on: August 18, 2008

America, you might wonder what on Earth the US presidential race has to do with me, a 30-year-old Brit whose only involvement in events in America is biased BBC reporting and Sky News - that and the occasional paper, but believe me, if you read the drivel that comes out of our press on a daily basis you too wouldn't put much credence in it. I suppose I've hit the nail on the head with my opening statement.

The Earth, that's the reason; your presidential election will have an impact on pretty much everybody on the planet everybody that cares about freedom and democracy that is. The obvious frustration for everybody looking in from the outside is that there is not a thing any of us can do to influence the result, we just have to sit on our collective hands and hope the right guy gets in. Whatever turf wars or other international disputes the new White House incumbent involves himself with, we the inhabitants of this murky grey island off the tip of Europe, will have to participate too, which is why a third Bush term in the form of Senator John McCain is a really bad idea.

I think that here in Europe the prevailing sentiment is one of anxiety over another Republican term. Four more years of our forces being dragged around the world for one ridiculous, ill-thought-out conflict after another? No thanks very much. Bush the bully and master manipulator has had his time and thankfully a new day is dawning.

Enter Barack Obama.

I expect my initial reaction to this guy was very similar to many Americans: "Who the hell is this guy? Seems like a tacky ploy by the Democrats to secure the black vote in the same way that Hillary Clinton was a fullback position that would ensure middle-American female support." Seemed like a ploy that would be seen through in an instant. But then he, Senator Obama, began to speak, and I don't just mean in that empty 'politician-using-a-lot-of-words-to-say-not-very-muc h' way that representatives on both sides of the Atlantic have of speaking when they want to gloss over sensitive issues (check out Bush talking about any number of issues, my personal favourite has to be his talk on sovereignty). No, when Barack Obama speaks he does so with a purpose, a point, and a frankness that is refreshing and a
delight to listen to.

Like I said, I knew nothing about Barack Obama at the beginning of the nomination process. I knew plenty about Hillary Clinton. Like many others, I assumed that the Clintons were going to sweep back into the White House after an 8 year hiatus. I never counted on Obama's calm, steely resolve. About five months ago I really started to take notice of this guy. Intrigued, I picked up his auto-biography. I wasn't able to put it down for a week. Whatever you need to know about his past, his upbringing, his mixed race roots, it's all there in vivid, honest, frank Technicolor. The book isn't just some sentimental gushy jottings either. If you listen to Obama in interview or a debate, it's the same. He tells it as it is and if people don't like it that's down to them. He's been there and done it, working with the disadvantaged,
battling racial prejudice, cultivating tolerance.

From everything I've seen and read, this guy is the real deal, and the world will be
a much safer place with him at the helm. I know I'll sleep easier in bed knowing
he's in the Oval and not Mr Gungho McCain. But like I said at the beginning, we in
Europe and the rest of the world will have to wait and see what happens . . .

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