So it’s happened . . . after the near-miraculous election of Barack Obama four years ago, this week the American public did it again to give him a second term in office.
Republican Mitt Romney didn’t get the wins he needed to unseat the present incumbent and Obama swept ahead to retain the keys to one of the most influential addresses on the planet.
The First Family remains the same first family for another term, so it’s business as usual for Team America.
It always amazes me how much global media coverage goes into the presidential election in the US.
American politics is a pantomime at the best of times but when regime change is on the cards the media goes wild, even if the electorate doesn’t.
Long before the polls closed, a final result was being described as being too close to call and many had predicted recounts and legal delay before a winner would be declared.
In the event however, it seems that Romney simply didn’t have the strength of vote in the key states and lost in others that he had been predicted to win. It wasn’t a landslide, but it was an emphatic win for the Democrats.
Imagine the general election here, multiplied by the number of states in the union there. Win sufficient separate state elections and admission to the presidential nuclear bunker is yours.
The race for the White House has seen some amazing debates, personal attacks and defences. Careers will have been made and lost as a result of the show that’s been put on.
To an outsider like me, there were times when the issues that make up the nature of politics seemed to be almost completely eclipsed.
Healthcare, unemployment and economic recovery are the domestic issues that Obama has been dogged by throughout his presidency so far and on occasions he’s seemed to be ineffective, although not as a result of any personal failing.
Internationally he enjoys a good reputation and profile which will undoubtedly continue – he appears very statesmanlike. But at home he’s less strong.
I heard someone talking about the US election being that of “. . . the last superpower on earth . . .” earlier this week. Rubbish – look to the east and you’ll find the emerging economies of India and China there. If your definition of superpower includes the size of the population and its business potential, the United States has already lost the top spot.
Although Obama continues as President, he has tough times ahead of him. Thanks to the two-tier system of government across the pond, he has anything but a free hand to make change, since despite the Democrats keeping control of the Senate, the Republicans hold sway in the House of Representatives.
Political deadlock looks likely to continue to be a major influence in getting things done in the United States, much as it has been for the past four years. The people have had their say, and now they – and the rest of the world – will be looking on to see what America makes of its no-change political scene.
David Cameron tweeted congratulations to his “friend” Barack Obama. I question how warm that “special friendship” really is.
Of course, the US presidential election is just the warm-up act for the main event. On the 15th the polls will open here for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections. We’ll be told that we have had our say, regardless of how big the turnout proves to be. If you’ve got a vote, use it, because it’s how you really can have an influence. Stand up and be counted.
God bless Northamptonshire . . .
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