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!