The Jamaica Observer, Jamaica

In Backing Obama, Jamaica is in 'Excellent' Company

 

"Senator Obama is wildly popular and has been able to inspire people. Across the globe, people are rooting for him. … Jamaicans are, indeed, in excellent company."

 

EDITORIAL

 

October 23, 2008

 

Jamaica - The Jamaica Observer - Original Article (English)

Caribbean nation of Jamaica: Population: 2,804,332 [137th] Language: English Square Miles: 4,244 Per Capita Income: $4,194 Gross Domestic Product: $11.266 billion [113th] Natural Resources: bauxite, gypsum, limestone Industries: tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications

We're not the least bit surprised that Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic Party candidate, is the overwhelming choice of Jamaicans to be President of the United States.

 

If there is any surprise in our online poll results, which were published on the front page of today's edition, it's that Senator John McCain managed to pick up 5.7 percent of Jamaican support when they responded to the question "Who do most Jamaicans prefer to win the U.S. presidential elections?"

 

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Jamaicans have always shown a preference for the Democratic Party, even when Prime Minister Edward Seaga's Administration [1980-1989] enjoyed very close relations with the Republican government of Ronald Reagan.

 

But Jamaicans aren't unusual in this regard. The way things are going and if current poll results hold true, Mr. Obama seems to be the candidate most Americans want in the White House after the November 4 presidential election.

 

Senator Obama is wildly popular and has been able to inspire people. Across the globe, people are rooting for him. The manner in which he has conducted his campaign and the way he has held firmly to his good character and temperament - despite great provocation - has earned him supporters even within the ranks of U.S. Republicans. He has run a sensible campaign, largely bereft of the spite and malice which has characterized McCain's, and on two central counts, he has managed to outfox the Arizona senator.

 

First, Mr. Obama opted no to accept state funding, which would have severely limited his spending. Instead, he preferred to take his chance with donors. His confidence in the American people has paid off handsomely, and he's now outspending Senator McCain four to one. Mr. McCain, having accepted $84 million in state funds, can spend no more. As if to rub salt in the wound, Mr. Obama raised a record-breaking $150 million in September alone.

 

Second, when the bottom fell out of the American economy, Senator McCain opted for gimmickry, saying he was suspending his campaign to rush to Washington to help deal with the crisis. But in the process, he further isolated potential supporters in the state of Michigan, where he was scheduled to go next.  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

For his part, Obama got his economic team together and has come up with a coherent plan to lead the country out of crisis. Frightened Americans are turning to the man they saw as a leader in their time of crisis.

 

Realizing that Senator Obama had stolen a march on him, Senator McCain and the Republicans resorted to a blistering campaign of fear and the smearing of Obama as a man, which has had dire consequences for the Republican camp and perhaps for the nation.

 

As this week began, the Obama-Biden ticket was maintaining a strong lead in the polls and importantly, the race for newspaper endorsements. As of Monday, the count was 115 newspapers to Obama and 38 to McCain. This brought the lead over the McCain-Palin ticket to 3-1 in both the number and 4-1 in terms of circulation of newspapers.

 

Jamaicans are, indeed, in excellent company.

 

GALLOP POLLS CONDUCTED FROM MAY TO SEPTEMBER 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US October 23, 7:30pm]