Triumph of the novice

Barack Obama has been elected as the next President of the United States. The US has once again shown the world, not only that it can re-invent itself, but that it leads the way with an egalitarian society, where now anyone, irrespective of background or race, can be President.

John McCain was gracious in defeat, despite some of the assembled faithful booing at the mention of Obama. He fought valiantly, but ultimately had little to offer in contrast to Obama's message of hope and change, and was undoubtedly damaged by a perceived closeness, in policy terms, to the now universally unpopular George W Bush.

America's image around the world has been damaged by a foreign policy failures, from the War against Terror - whose threads take in the Iraq war to detention without trial in Guantanamo Bay - to its dismissal and inaction on climate change. Americans and friends of America around the world will be hoping that Obama's change starts to put this right.

Obama will take office and inherit a full in-tray from Bush - a burgeoning deficit, the need for revised bank regulation, ongoing adventures in Iraq and Afghanistan for starters. Add to this his own stated policy initiatives of personal tax reform, increased tariffs on Chinese imports and tax policies to ensure companies keep jobs in the US rather than shipping them abroad, and reform of healthcare.

Quite a lot to work his way through.


Both Gordon and Dave tried to bask in the reflected glow of Obama's victory today. I think Dave was slightly more successful, by asking Gordon whether he'd told Obama that it was, "...no time for a novice".

Most commentators agree that Obama's election in the US has neutralised that line of attack against Cameron. Novices can win. The question is, can Cameron emulate Obama's wide-ranging appeal and compelling message of hope and change?


Oh, and don't write off that other novice, the lipstick-wearing Sarah Palin from having a stab at the top job in a couple of years time.