Game, Set, and Match!

The ongoing Democratic primary elections for the Presidency of USA, reminds me of the last stages of a grand slam tennis final where a relatively unknown player suddenly ‘breaks in’ to start a long period of dominance. Like the 1990 U.S. Open final where a relatively unknown Pete Sampras beat favored Andre Agassi, (6-4,6-3,6-2). Or the 2004 Wimbeldon final where teenager Maria Sharapova, thrashed the current champion Serena Williams (6-1. 6-4). First, you are surprised at the excellent play of the newcomer, and wonder if it is a fluke. But after a few games (usually after the first set), you realize that there is something special about the new player, and that he or she is ‘too good’ for the current champion. There will be more games to play, and the old champion will do all sort of things to slow down or to distract the new sensation. But nothing will work, and it will be soon be ‘Game, Set and Match!’ with a new champion, who will dominate tennis for many years to come. Same thing is happening here in the Primary Elections. Hillary Clinton is the 'old champion' with the name recognition, experience, and connections within the Democratic Party. Until recently, she was the de facto Democratic candidate for Presidency, with the primaries being a routine 'warm up' for the general election. Then, out of nowhere comes Barack Obama, a ex-community organizer from Chicago, and challenges her in a race that requires millions of dollars, and years of experience in national campaigns. Obama first wins Iowa, signals with an inspiring victory speech that we have someone totally different as a candidate. Clinton somehow manages to beat Obama in New Hampshire primary. But Obama turns the table on her with another inspiring exhortation in his conceding speech (‘Yes, We can’). I do not think Clinton could ever get back in her stride afterwards. She has tried all sort of things, some of them desperate, to bring Obama down from his pedestal of politics of a nobler kind ( portraying him as just another black candidate, accusing him of being a Reagan supporter, charging him with plagiarism, so on). Nothing has worked because Obama is just too good a politican for her. In addition to inspiring people with words, he has an uncanny ability to brush off accusations, and turn them into his advantage (for example, the racial attacks against him united all the blacks for him!). Obama has now won eleven (11) elections in a row. March 4^th elections in Texas and Ohio, will be the ‘Game, Set and Match’ of this exciting contest. We will then have a winner on his way to becoming the next President of United States. Cheers!

It is going to get nasty!

Looks like Senator Hillary Clinton has her back to the wall in the on going Primary elections for the Presidency of USA. Senator Barack Obama has now won eight primaries in a row, and may win two more tomorrow. Hillary and her team are now throwing in anything they can get their hands on, to stop the Obama momentum. (Her silly charge of palgiarism by Obama is a good example). According to political pundits her only chance for win at this stage is to somehow bring Obama down from his high pedestal as the ‘the messiah of hope’. So, I expect Clinton to come out with some nasty 'below the belt' blows in the next debate on February 26^th. My blood is already boiling!

The Year of the Underdogs

I was reading about Uno, the beagle, who won last week the Best of Show award in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in New York. If there was an ‘underdog’ in the show, it was Uno. Beagle is considered to be just an average breed, and no match for the stylish terriers and poodles who win the awards year after year. To add to it, Uno was so different from the ‘prim and proper’ dogs who stand stiffly with pointed tails for the judges. He was jumping and barking with excitement most of the time, and did no hesitate to ‘ahhroooe…’ back to the audience for their cheers. What a refreshing change! Two weeks ago, the gritty New York Giants defeated the unbeaten New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. Most of the Oscar nominations this year are for young artists and independent producers. And in the Presidential elections, we have a newcomer on the verge of beating a world famous candidate. I think 2008 is going be the Year for the Underdogs! I love it.

A golden chance to checkmate!

The Republican Party is in complete disarray with Senator John McCain assured of the nomination as their candidate for the Presidency. Despite of McCain winning primary elections, it turns out that there is a sizable vociferous section of the party who strongly dislikes him, and threatens never to vote for him. It is fun watching the crumbling of this party that dominated the American politics for years. But Republicans still have one hope for a quick reunification. It is to have Hillary Clinton run as their opposition candidate for Presidency. Clinton is so hated by the Republicans, that they will come out in droves to vote against her. That will unite the party to some extent, and will let them retain the office of the President of USA. On the other hand, if Senator Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee, all bets are off. Obama will attract to his side independents, and even some Republicans, and easily win the election. In short, the Democrats now have a golden opportunity to checkmate the Republicans with Obama, and watch them crash and burn. But, ‘Noooo!’; that is too easy!

A pleasant surprise!

I have volunteered as a Precinct Captain of the Obama Campaign. (For the first time in my 42 years in USA, I am getting involved in politics!). My job is to call the registered voters in my voting precinct, and to encourage Obama supporters to vote on next Tuesday (‘Super Tuesday’). It is not an easy task in the heavily Republican community I live. Anyway, last Wednesday I went to attend a Precinct Captains meeting. I was expecting it to be at some shabby office in the cheap section of town. Instead, the meeting was at a fancy restaurant right across the Obama campaign office located at a charming and touristy section of the town (Artist’s Village). The bigger surprise was the mixture of the crowd at the meeting. It was all white (except for me), well educated and passionate about Obama. We had college students, young professionals, and a few senior citizens (like me). We discussed strategies and tactics over fancy cocktails and dinner. Notes were carefully taken with a laptop computer, and distributed later. Around 9:30 PM, we went back to the Obama campaign office. There were still a few people there, all white, organizing campaign materials, analyzing data from computers etc. (Some were on phone at that time of the night which I could not understand). Everyone looked cheerful, relaxed and confident. I think the Clinton strategy of boxing in Obama as the candidate of the Afro Americans has failed. Hurray!