[The Times, U.K.]
Le Figaro, France
John McCain's
Moment: 'Innovation' Equal to Obama
"The Republicans succeeded in
doing what was most important: they are campaigning as if George W. Bush never
existed and have seized the theme of change that Obama had confiscated for
his own benefit … this time, both candidates are equally as innovative. This is
why the outcome of the race remains so uncertain."
By
Pierre Rousselin
Translated
By Sandrine Ageorges
September 10, 2008
France
- French - Original Article (French)
The post-convention is an
important stage in the election campaign for the presidency on November 4th. It's
the moment when conclusions can be drawn about the nomination of the candidates
and their running mates before the final sprint to Election Day. In less than
sixty days, the dice will be thrown.
On the starting line, the team
of John McCain and Sarah Palin appears to have a slight lead over the Barack
Obama-Joe Biden tandem. The polls confirm that Republicans have won their gamble
by stealing the spotlight from Democrats.
The choice of Sarah Palin for
the Vice Presidency is a big part of the reason. The young woman of 44 years
and mother of five children has succeeded in presenting herself as embodying an
America close to the people, while uniting the conservative faction of the
Republican Party.
In particular,
she has infused the campaign of septuagenarian John McCain with youth and renewed
vigor.
The flood of revelations, intended
to harm the suddenly praised unknown, has in fact served the Republican ticket
by mobilizing his supporters, who once more are convinced they are being
targeted by the left-wing media. One wonders, moreover, if this sequence of
criticism wasn't deliberately orchestrated by Republican strategists.
In short, at least for the
moment, the "Sarah Palin Operation" has been a genuine success for
John McCain. She has permitted, in turn, a further blurring of the image of Barack
Obama. The choice of Joe Biden, a veteran Senator brimming over with
experience, appears quite conservative from a man presenting himself as a
champion of a radically-new form of politics.
[Toronto Star,
Canada]
In giving flesh to the candidacy
of John McCain, Sarah Palin also emphasizes the distance that remains between voters
and Obama - a mixed-race man born in Hawaii who had a Kenyan father and who
grew up in Indonesia.
Finally, the Republicans succeeded
in doing what was most important: they are campaigning as if George W. Bush never
existed and have seized the theme of change that Barack Obama had confiscated
for his own benefit and on which he had brilliantly based his entire campaign.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
One can't say if John McCain is
inspired by Nicolas Sarkozy, but he has expresses a willingness to embrace a "rupture"
and encourage "openness" while being prepared to recruit Democrats
for his future administration. One awaits such a commitment from Barack Obama …
Now that the two candidates
are presenting themselves as agents of change, the campaign looms as a bitter
struggle to convince wavering voters of their respective capacity to break the
routine in Washington. It is a familiar debate in the United States, which has
brought to the presidency, one after the other, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and
George W. Bush. The difference is that this time, both candidates are equally
as innovative. This is why the outcome of the race remains so uncertain.
CLICK HERE FOR FRENCH
VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
September 12, 8:42pm]
