Obama vs. Clinton

[Octahedron]

As an European watcher it's interesting to see how the Democratic Party comes up with their 2 potential President candidates: Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton

A young black man vs. a political carreer woman, husband of an ex-USA-president

2 very unusual persons to plan a campaign with as usual.

BTW: Obama sounds to me like Osama.   :P

[Violet]

As an European watcher it's interesting to see how the Democratic Party comes up with their 2 potential President candidates: Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton

A young black man vs. a political carreer woman, husband of an ex-USA-president

2 very unusual persons to plan a campaign with as usual.

BTW: Obama sounds to me like Osama.   :P

The other thing that interests me about Obama--in addition to agreeing that all of the above is interesting--is that he is the son of an immigrant.  He is as close to being an immigrant as it is possible to be and still be eligible for the presidency, at least under the current understanding of the US constitution.  Possibly he is a 'bridge' candidate to pave the way for a naturalized citizen becoming president?  Generally naturalized citizens are not well-connected enough--in any country--to mount a serious drive for the presidency but an exception would be Adolf Hitler, native of Austria, who ran for the German presidency immediately after naturalizing as a German citizen in 1932.  The person most often cited as the potential first naturalized citizen to become US president, Arnold Schwarzenegger, is also a native of Austria.

[Violet]

As an European watcher it's interesting to see how the Democratic Party comes up with their 2 potential President candidates: Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton

A young black man vs. a political carreer woman, husband of an ex-USA-president

2 very unusual persons to plan a campaign with as usual.

BTW: Obama sounds to me like Osama.   :P

Another thing that is interesting this time around is that the top candidates of BOTH parties are US Senators.  That is unusual--if you look at recent presidential politics it is unusual for a sitting member of congress to become president.  Here are the recent US presidents with their last political job prior to becoming president:

George W. Bush, 2001-present, Governor of Texas

Bill Clinton, 1993-2001, Governor of Arkansas

George H.W. Bush, 1989-1993, Vice President

Ronald Reagan, 1981-1989, Governor of California

Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981, Governor of Georgia

Gerald Ford, 1974-1977, Vice President

Richard Nixon, 1969-1974, Vice President

Lyndon Johnson, 1963-1969, Vice President

Jack Kennedy, 1961-1963, US Senator

If you go by the recent pattern one would expect Giuliani or Romney to become president as they are the top non-congressmen in the race.

 

[Octahedron]

Was Michael Dukakis also a son of an immigrant (Greece) ?

Walter Mondale was an ex-Vice Pres. under Carter, I remember; with Mrs. Ferraro in the campaign of 1984.


If Arnold Schwarzenegger is a Pres. candidate for the Republicans, who will be his running mate? 

Jeb Bush ?  or vice versa ?