By the time the election rolls around in nov., if Obama is the nominee, The democrats will not have a viable candidate. Obama has so many friends and associates tied to racist and bigotry. It is just come out he has had a relationship with a terrorist from the early 70,s in the Chicago area. The media has made a daring out of Obama. In truth he is a fraud created by the media. I cringe when I look at him. I see Farrahkan, Jackson, Sharpton, all bigots crusading on the backs of the black community. Look how blacks are swarming to Obama, for skin color only. Is that racism? Obama is suppose to be the great healer, has he healed the democratic party or split it? The damage is so great the democratics cannot win. I have always been an independent, but if I had to pick now, I would go republican.

JIM, NASHVILE, TN.

Consider the Real World: If President Bush had not ordered the invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein and the Baath party would still be in power. Only two possible options in the real world. Obama and the left say the invasion and war were mistakes. Fine. Therefore, Obama prefers a real world in which Saddam Hussein would still be in power and he should admit it. Period. I speak of the real world, not fanatasies, such as Saddam Hussein accepting a teaching position at Boston College and opening up a Falafel Stand in Montpelier. Truman was right t intevene in South Korea in 1950. The Korean War cost 30,000 U.S. lives, including my second cousin. But South Korea is free today and Truman is vindicated. Obama and the Democrats prefer a world with Saddam Hussein still controlling Iraq. Today Iraqi Shiites are free to visit their shrines.

Tony Jones , Ann Arbor , Michigan

Hmm... an "irredeemable racist" America. It's doubtful that if McCain wins (and I hope he doesn't), that excuse will be more than 5% of the reason. Are you able to discuss the seemingly endless racism and antisemitism found in many parts (not all) of Europe? Save your dramatic generalizations... there are many places in the United States that have overcome the rancid legacy of racism (not all), but what an absurd statement. Get an education by looking at the pieces of America that don't reinforce your worst stereotypes.

JoBac, Chicago, USA

I would be less than honest if I didn't admit to having serious qualms about an Obama presidency. The reasons are obvious and Baker states them well. Still, checks and balances of the American politcal system protects us from the renegades and the incompetent. Heck, we survived Warren Harding.

But the upside to an Obama presidency has the potential to raise America to new heights. Firstly, that persistent sore that never heals - racism, may finally have a healing salve with the election of an African-American as President. Secondly, the often pretentious and snobbish euros may finally get over their perpetual grudge at America being the leader of the world's nations. Thirdly, having been replaced by a genuine leader, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton can sell fake rolexes and perfumes in Chinatown for the remaining years of their careers.

And, finally, an Obama presidency will be like a true thriller movie - not a soul on the planet knows what the outcome will be

Harald Kasper, RESTON, VIRGINIA, USA

Current economics have driven even election from priority concerns. Leaving accusations of malevolence or greed aside we must be aware that many people have got it into their heads that a certain form of government is not prejudicial to the interests of the majority and they are not going to allow change until they accept responsibility for their actions and non actions.
We don't take people out in the back and shoot them, however expeditious this may seem. Historically we ask why is it that in certain given situations leaders will do exactly the wrong thing? Beware the perverse imp of vengeance - it does no one good, however good it feels.
But, be that as it may, the alleged "success" of recent decades has rested on a calculated blindness, the sleep of reason. Knowledge always hurts but we are just going to have to spread the pain a little more widely otherwise you may as well try stopping the wind from blowing.

glenn schaefer, holbrook, USA

If you recall, we weren't doing anything to incite the sensitive Muslims prior to 9/11, and they still attacked us. So clearly, playing nice with them doesn't mean they will leave you alone, just that they might kill you last. The EU has bent over backwards to accommodate them and they still attack them whenever they have the opportunity. When are the peace-lovers like Obama going to wake up and realize they don't want to live with us, they want to replace our way of life with theirs? Obama is scary-naive.

Sandy, Louisville, KY

Obama wants stronger child labor and environment rules with trading partners. I do not see how this would hurt trade with the EU.

McCain is a good man and would not have started a stupid war. If I was rich and could afford my monthly health care deduction, I would vote for him and for permanent tax cuts for my hedge fund and poker winnings.

Go Obama

Buckeye Scott, Columbus, Ohio

Mr. Baker wants this to be a battle of icons and not a battle of ideas. This is because Obama wins the battle of ideas. Mr. Baker also wants experience and judgment to be viewed as synonyms. BUT they are not. GW Bush has 7 years experience but continues to exhibit poor judgment. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. McCain exhibited poor judgment when authorizing the war, YET they have ample experience. America is actually battling for a new direction, based on the strength of ideas and the importance of sound judgment. It is a substantive debate that actually threatens the oligarchs who currently hold the reins of power. It is in heir best interests to frame the debate as being "Darth Vader" Vs. "Luke Skywalker." Besides, anyone knows that that a better analogy is Anakin Vs. Obewon. Only a geriatric McCain supporter would have come up with the former.

Nealo, Seattle, USA / Washintgon

How in the world could tax cuts cause a bad economy??? Are you people out of your collectivist minds?? More money in people's pockets to spend is great for the economy! You people are like frogs in a boiling pot, stripping yourselves of your own freedoms slowly and not even noticing. If you have your way and Obama or Hillary become president corporations will be punished and you will see corporations pass on their burden to their employees and lay them off! Come on. Take an economics class, please! As far as guns are concerned, is there no violence in Britain?? Gun control really works there, huh? You liberals just prove the conservative's point; you do not recognize facts, you live in a dream world of your own imagination, you continue to lie to yourselves and believe in programs that have been a historical FAILURE. If Obamacons were honest they would acknowledge that Obama has no new message-it's just a rehash of Mcgovernism.

Deane Pradzinski, Highland, CAlifornia

C'mon...the Times story has been ridiculed and has served to bolster McCain. Aside from that, the media has not poryrayed him in any kind of Vader-like fashion. I think Cheney has that characretisation locked up for life. And sure, Europeans should like Obama...his policies are very much like the European ones a lot of us praise overe here in the States. If McCain will likely lose (barring an attack on US soil) bc he will look and speak the part of old, non-progressive policies (i.e. tax cuts in a time of war, preemptive war, and anti-gay rights)..especially in a debate format and HD TV, where his age will be as obvious as ever to voters across the nation.

Alex, Chicago, IL

I look forward to this ground-swell of American Youth, American Seniors and American Ethinic groups who now for the first time since JFK, are moved to participate in American Politics. We are finally getting our public out to caucus, out to vote and amazingly out to call everyone they know.
This participation in the Democratic Process, is an extraordinary event. We must not under-estimate the masses, as you will see, the power comes back to the people in 2008
America is getting its soul back, Senator Barack Obama will be the one to thank for that.

Arlene Tognetti, Seattle, Washington USA

Regarding: "If he [McCain] had [taken the US to war], you can be sure he would not have done so in such a disgracefully ill-prepared way as Mr Bush did."
There's no reason at all to be "sure" of that. Rumsfeld had far more experience in both the private sector and in the federal govt's executive branch (including being Sec. of Defense for President Ford in 1974-6) than McCain has ever had. V.-Pres. Cheney was Sec. of Defense during the (very successful) Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
McCain, like H. Clinton, voted to authorize Bush to take military action in Iraq, and he didn't begin criticizing its strategy & tactics until after the monumental mistakes were apparent to all.

Tim in AnnArbor, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

Ched from philadelphia is completely wrong and doesn't know what he's talking about, obamo will lose in the general because of it
1, McCain is against torture and has never been for it, you don't even know what that vote was about first off and if you vote yes on it you vote yes on a whole assortment of things
2, Those tax cuts included the "qoute" not rich as well and if you let them expire you are riasing taxes, McCain has never voted for any tax increase...ever
3, I know most of your information probably comes from anti McCain website but you can't honestly believe this one, I mean seriously, McCain never took and public financing, never borrowed money on a bank assumption he was going to get it, The bank along with McCain and all the bank documentation clearly states the loan he recieved had nothing to do with public financing, Im not sure if your misinformed or just a intentionally giving out misinformation
4, The NY Times was completly false

Scott, New York, NY

John McCain will be the next president of the United States. Barack Obama's honeymoon with the press and the American public won't last for another nine months. Eventually his sweeping but vague polemics of "change" and "hope" are going to start sounding hollow and voters are going to want to know "Where's the beef?". And once they start looking more closely at his voting record and his public policy positions, they're going to see that for all the shiny new wrapping, all that's underneath is far left, old school, big government, welfare state liberalism. Nothing more.

John McCain is an American hero. Watching his life story on Fox News the other night made me want to stand up and salute. He's a stud, and Americans love that. He's perceived as being moderately conservative, which is where most Americans are. Finally, many moderate Democrats. especially in the south, simply aren't quite ready yet to vote for a black man for president.

Add all this up, and McCain wins in November.

Dan, San Diego, California

I only wish more Europeans possessed Mr. Baker's insight.

Sadly, many people in Europe, in their view of the US, agree with American liberals, but at least they have the excuse of being an ocean away.

Max, Lynnwood, wA

Like John McCain and his fellow Republican hawks, Mr. Baker supposes that the war in Iraq can be won.

Please explain, sir, how we Americans can force those three ethnic groups, that hate each other, to want to live with one another in a single polity, short of engaging in Soviet style oppression.

Until the Republicans can provide a sensible solution to that problem, victory in Iraq will remain an impossiblity, and expenditure of $1,000,000,000,000 and 4,000 American and British service people a total waste.

Stuart Goldbarg, St. Paul, Minnesota United States

I am delighted to see so much considered and eloquent comment from Americans considering the forthcoming elections. Sitting here in the UK we tend to get the distinct impression that the average American is unbelievelably niaive, grossly obese, stupid and incredibly insular. On the contrary.

If you checked out any UK discussion site it would be littered with profanity and nonsensical insults from mindless morons.

I look forward to a new responsible US president that provides hope and a future for Americans and provides an optimistic vision for the future, that does not ignore the global issues and sensitivities and provides an example of good to the rest of the western world. Such is the reputation of Bush the US has lost face in the world, just when it needs to be out there and competing with the awesome new economies of China, India.

I disagree with many american issues but if there is going to be one nation that polices the world then USA still has my vote.

Mike, southampton, uk

Replying to kerner's comment

Since we are dealing with the Star Wars myth and trying to apply it to the current campaign I have a few comments.

Casting McCain as Yoda may or may not be appropriate, either way Yoda failed to save the day.

You try to cast Obama as Anikin Skywalker. Note that in the story Obi Wan was right and Anikin was the one fortold who would destroy the Sith.

In the end Star Wars is about how youth, hope and idealism in the end win the day.

Obama is not going to do everything right but he seems to have vision and hope which I have not seen much in recent politics.

John O, Seattle,

McCain used to be a fiscal conservative, but not a social conservative, with an acceptable view on the US' place in the world. He used to champion prudent policies like campaign finance reform.

As he runs toward the right, pandering for hard-core conservative votes, he is alienating centrist voters like myself.

I don't know who I will end up voting for, but right now I am leaning Obama's way.

Alan, Seattle, USA

Barack Obama is certainly an inspiring speaker who can stimulate people to get involved as he has proven, pretty well.

In American politics this is attractive because there is so much lobbying money and pressure inside the Washington DC beltway. Almost the only way to get the congress to look past this influence is to bypass the lobbying efforts and get the population involved to lean on their elected representatives.

There are numerous examples of leaders that inspire people to get involved, I don’t think Jimmy Carter is one but Kennedy, Reagan and Thatcher are. Leaders that could both communicate and motivate. You may agree with their views, or not, but the holy grail of democracy is involvement and this democracy is a better place for having Barack Obama in it.

Will, Fort Worth, Texas

The only real question about Obama is whether 10 years from now his image be on US coin, paper money or both. Perhaps since Lincoln is on both the penny and $5, Obama could replace him on one. Perhaps Chicago's airport could be renamed Obama Field?

Marcus, Gustov, Chicago, IL

Here in Germany there is nobody calling Obama "the Black JFK". But he is on every front page and widely seen as a good representative of the USA.

Erik Berg, Berlin,

Hillary would do well to borrow some of the sound-bites from this article.

Roz, London, UK

Hmmm, nice work. Very nice work. Thanks for taking the time to think through to the end, and to the emotional response the US would have in terms of backlash if McCain won. So sad that Europeans know us better than ourselves.

KELLY ROBERTS, Edmond, Oklahoma

Well luckily for us, Mr. Baker has no vote. :) And I already cast mine for Obama. Feel free to keep writing stuff like this, it won't make a bit of difference in the U.S., change is coming.

Tiffany, Chicago, IL,

Francis (not Roger) Bacon, who actually wrote 'Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper' (not dinner), was already Baron Verulam when he wrote it, and hence Lord (not Sir Francis) Bacon.

And Obama CAN'T be a candidate. 'Candida' means 'brilliant white', which he just ISN'T.

Noel Falconer, COUIZA, France

"Change" for change's sake is not a policy.

I have followed this extensively from my Caribbean Island, on the Times, BBC America and the World Service. I have no idea what Obama's policies are.

In any case, as Gordon Brown has discovered to his cost, it is "events" which matter. I seriously doubt whether Obama could cope with "events". He has no experience, just gloss and a slogan. The USA and the world would not be safe in his hands.

Not so, Mrs. Clinton.

She's more than proved that she can cope with those.

Kirsten Houghton, George Town, Grand Cayman

The choices that Americans have in the upcoming election are pretty clear:

If they want to stay in Iraq for the next several decades, vote for McCain and let him live up to his suggestion that being there for the next hundred years is OK. If they believe that invading Iraq was wrong, vote for Obama who was one of the few voices against the war before it started.

If they like Bush’s failed economic polices, vote for McCain who supports those policies.

If they like having the government control their lives, vote for McCain who is aligning himself with the radial religious Right.

If they would like to have national health coverage, they should keep in mind that McCain thinks the government should not get involved.

If they think that diplomacy can reduce world tensions, then they should vote for Obama who is willing to talk to the leaders of countries that we disagree with. McCain does not think that we should bother.

If they think the country could do better, only Obama offers the hope for change. McCain thinks that we should keep doing what we are now.

I for one am willing to give Obama the chance to make the US a better place to live.

Gary Maxwell, Lynnwood, Washington

I’m voting for Obama.

I do not expect him to be able to execute everything he is saying, but I do believe he will be able to at least get the dialogue going in a civilized manner.

I also like Clinton and McCain. McCain has been running for president for 8 years. Most of this bi partisan cooperation was done for publicity to set up his run. He is well known for his temper. I do not think he would be an effective President.

However He is a much better improvement over our current one.

Cid, Washington, DC

Frankly, I think America's peacekeeping and humanitarian interests will be a much easier "sell", especially to the Germans, if someone like Obama makes the case.

Turning away from the Bush Doctrine will put people more at ease about helping the USA. It will no longer be the case (hopefully) that every soldier they send to help us will be one more that we can free up to launch aggressive wars in violation of international law. Obama wants to drastically decrease our presence in Iraq, which will both free up our military resources and put us in a better standing with our concerned allies.

I respect McCain's service to our country, but it worries me when he talks about "another 100 years" after Bush recently said that leaving Vietnam was a mistake. Now is not the time to be rummaging through old national baggage, especially not so publically, because people are now very careful about watching what America says and does.

People want to like America again. I really hope we don't blow it.

Darryl Bueckner, Hamburg, Germany

I am sadly disappointed in reading the comments left about this article. It almost makes me embarrassed to be an "American."

note that I said "almost."

In no way, shape or form does this article claim that America or the Republican party are racist. Mr. Baker simply states that should John McCain win the general election, the excuse will be given that America is racist. This is the entire premise to the article! Mr. Baker marks the severely twisted and manipulated view of political figures by society in contrast to their actual character:

Mr. Obama = Hope

Mr. McCain = Hypocrite

While these labels are completely unjustified. What Mr. Baker points out as the underside of the issue is that John McCain has much more experience doing the things Barrack Obama "hopes" to achieve.

Please look up the meaning behind the phrase: "taken out of context."

Jeffrey, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

When he writes that America will be viewed as racist he is NOT saying that Americans are racist. Rather he is implying that because of the villification of McCain, "racism" would be the reason cited for his election to the Presidency while his justifiable qualifications (in the eyes of the author) would be dismissed. Please, if you are going to respond, bone up on your reading comprehension...

MCon, Slingerlands, US/NY

The more you call us Obamaniacs, the more we want to vote for Obama.

Joe, NYC,

The true victim of the last eight years of republican rule is the truth. Republicans in their zeal against government have undermined the truth. No one in America trusts republicans now. Just ask anyone here. John Stewart and Colbert have turned this into entertainment but the people of America will use their votes in November to empty Washington of all republicans. Goodbye and good ridance!

Brian, LA,

Americans are sick of this Republican Racism!

Brian, LA,

First, let me say that I was one of those people who didn't agree going to Iraq. I felt we should have given the inspectors more time. The rest is history...

Fast forward to today and the question is what we should do now. And although I didn't agree going in, I feel like it's irresponsible now that things are improving to all of a sudden pull out. I could be wrong but things are getting better and Obama hasn't refuted that yet he still wants to pull out. We just spent all that blood just so we could waste our effort with an empty call for change. I think Obama slogan should be: "we should be as careless leaving as we were going in."

I understand McCain's "100 years" quote and it is being twisted by Obama's camp. Too bad, I kind of liked what Obama was trying to present to the people but I see it is more of a package rather than substance. I am going either McCain or Nader. At least they're more genuine.

John, Boston, MA

I must take issue with this rather misleading comment from Jeff Jennings:

"Sure, McCain's a decent guy, but hardly the hero you portray here. He said he would close Guantanamo a while back, but in the meantime voted that waterboarding should be considered a legal "enhanced interrogation technique"."

McCain actually voted against limiting the CIA to interrogation techniques in the Army Field Manual, a move he believes is tantamount to giving terrorists a 'How to resist American interrogation' manual. In his full statement after the vote he made it very clear a) he considers waterboarding to be a form of torture and b) that current laws already forbid it.

Neil Read, Birmingham, UK

Mr. Baker;

I must disagree. John McCain is not Darth Vader. Obama is the young Darth Vader.

McCain is Yoda.

Strong the force with Obama may be. But, know how to control it he does not. And the ways of the force he ignores while the desires of his own will seeks he.

This is why the older, wiser jedi-master will win the election

kerner, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Your article presented an interesting European perspective until you got to the point accusing America as racist if Obama loses. How lazy of you to reach that conclusion rather than coming up with a more rational explanation for your hypothetical. Remember, it is your racist America that has catipulted this one-term Senator to a position of the verge of defeating the presumptive Democratic Party nominee of many years, Hilary Clinton--with the party elite watching from the sidelines as your "racist" America votes. No, my friend, if he loses it would likely be due more to the content of his character than the color of his skin.

Joe Kennedy, New York,

One of the reasons that I'm hopeful about Obama is that I think that he might have the intellectual and political skills to rightly convince the American public that the time has come for the U.S. to withdraw from NATO. Consider just a few of the facts:
o A majority of Europeans think the U.S. is a "country of idiots."
o A majority of Europeans believe that the U.S. is the biggest threat to peace in the world.
o Rooskie strategic bombers are now regularly skirting the U.K.'s and the EU's shorelines.
o The combined GDP of the U.K. and the EU is larger than that of the U.S.
o The dollar is sinking with respect to the euro.
o American taxpayers are paying more for the U.S.'s contribution to Europe's defense than Europeans are paying for their own defense.
o NATO is contributing relatively very little to help defeat the Taliban and America's enemies, Al Qaeda, in Afghanistan.
The U.S. should 'flip the bird' at Europe and concentrate on Latin America and East (and South) Asia.

Tim, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

For all your say, you haven't the slightest idea of politics in the USA. The President can order troops out of Iraq with one swoop of his pen. This editorial is so filled with ignorant holes, and it looks like a big hunk of conservative Swiss cheese.

Philip Monroe, Pacific Grove, USA/California

American politicians are no different to other politicians: during the election its all about promises, promises, promises....

Elected individuals are being ''graded'' when they are in power, and in most cases they tend to fail up to expectations. Look Mr Sarkozy in France? He seems to be behaving in ways no one expected, but shall be ''graded'' by the end of his term.

Yes, Obama offers something different. But can he deliver something different? I dont think 4 years is long enough to make siginificant change in US domestic and foreign policy.

Jini ''Twahi'' Sebakunzi, St Louis, US / Missouri

Lord help us all in the US if Obamamania prevails in the election. He is almost as much of an empty suit as John Edwards. The author is spot on - Obama is writing checks his body can't cash, and we will all have tp pay for his "Utopia"! I was born and raised in England - a country that I hardly recognize when I visit now. It is decaying because it has encouraged a "cradle to grave" mentality among its people. Those few who want to work hard and get ahead are discouraged by high taxes that make it not worth while to be ambitious. The aging population and the thousands of immigrants that pour in are sucking the life out of the young people who work and pay the taxes. It's no wonder that thousands of Briths people are leaving to greener pastures. We don't need these failed polcies in the US.

Pat, Sacramento, California, USA

Obama has a fascination (and so do I) with American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr. In an interview with David Brooks Obama said he admired Niebuhr because he reminded us that "there's serious evil in the world...and we should be humble and modest in our belief that we can eliminate those things." Yet Obama is running a presidential campaign that is decidedly anti-Niebuhrian; he's working masses of wide-eyed optimists into a froth with his assurances that he can change all things for the better. What I fear for the Obamaniacs is that, just as in the 1960s when people in the US were worked up into a froth as well, the imperfect nature of man will lead to disappointment, and disappointment to resentment, and resentment to withdrawal from the public sphere. I wish that Obama (and perhaps he can do this in the fall campaign) would temper his words with a bit of realism and instill in his followers a spiritual discipline against resentment that is currently - and dangerously - lacking.

jimbob, Hamilton, OH

Instead of America changing, why doesn't Europe do so? After all, Europe has been wrong about every major global event since, oh say, the French Revolution -- a hideous event that produced only chaos, blood, military dictatorship, world war, and led to the return of the monarchy it had dethroned and yet is the national day of France.

If, for example, we had listened to the conventional European wisdom (Churchill was not conventional) of the past few decades, we now would have a European continent split between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany and Japan ruling over an East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

Diplomad, NY, NY

If you want good old-fashioned socialism, elect Mr. Obama, whose middle name is now off-limits to utter. People are now avoiding saying it for fear of being called "hate-mongers." Its his NAME for God's sake! The list of Obama's promised "goodies" is endless - whatever happens to pop into his head is something he wil take care of when elected. To pay for it, naturally, he will "tax the rich." A populist mantra that is as empty as his numerous promises. Does anyone know of a single accomplishment of Mr. Obama? Right, none. A singular bill passed by Congress? Right, none. He speaks of "hope" as if having hope is a goal. Having hope will not start small businesses, fix roads, build schools, or make Iran stop threatening Israel. Hope will not stop Al Quaeda from wanting to kill all American "infidels." His empty-headed wife, who is on several corporate boards and earns over $350,000 per year, is a world-class complainer. John McCain is much more qualified to be president.

William, Las Vegas, Nevada

I do have to say that I agree that the US and world media have been shockingly approving of Senator Obama, at the expense of both Senators Clinton and McCain. Perhaps, however, that is because he is the best candidate. Senator McCain is violently to the right of the American electorate when it comes to the war. Senator Clinton obfuscates every issue, especially her original support of the war. Senator McCain has clearly stated that he does not understand the economy. Senator Clinton has proposed economic measures violently to the left of the American electorate. Add to all this the facts that Senator McCain sounds like a poor facsimile of Reagan and that Senator Clinton has all the charm of a particularly stern vice principal and the choice slowly becomes obvious. Obama has staked out a comfortable political middle ground, has an inspiring tone, and a vote for him has the added charm of being a poke in the eye to the Bull Connors of the world. Why wouldn't the media swing his way?

Ian, New York, USA

All the Obamaniacs are in for a rude awakening very soon. Mr. Hussein Obama is no way becoming the next president in my opinion. Too much talk and no action. It's not about being the first black president it's about being the right person for the job. The media love affair with Mr. Hussein is laughable. Reminds me of their love affair with Billy Clinton, he could do wrong.

Jason McKeever, Stanford, VA

The rest of the world may view a McCain victory as "irredeemably racist," but that won't make it so.

No pro-choice candidate has ever been elected president in a 2-way race. Not that it will never happen, but I don't see it happening now...despite what the current polls may suggest. The country is more pro-life than it has been in a long time. Obama will be exposed for what he is and he will go down in flames.

Bill, Rhode Island,

Obama Will Not Remove The Troops From Iraq.

Cliff, West Lafayette, IN,

You need to update your dossier on McCain. While he was his own man (or at least portrayed himself to be), once upon a time, he has made it clear in his campaign for President that he will tow the extreme party line, to wit:
He was against torture before he was for it (as he showed in a vote a week or so ago);
He was against tax cuts for the rich, before he was for keeping them permanent;
He authored the campaign finance bill that he is presently seeking to violate, possibly becoming the first presidential candidate to become subject to its criminal penalties.
As the stupid NYT article highlights, he has never been the anti-lobbyist crusader he portrays himself to be.
As Obama himself put it, it looks like "the wheels have fallen off the straight-talk express."
It is you who has the rose-colored goggles on, Mr. Baker, and the object of your affection is the mythical John McCain, not the real one.

ched, philadelphia, pa, usa

"If you look at Ronald Reagan and how he performed among youth, he created a generation of Republicans that was able to sustain itself," Dowd says. "Well, what Bush has done in his presidency is almost the opposite: He has won elections and lost a generation. Now this generation is emerging, and if Democrats end up winning this election, and then govern in a way that gives people a sense that it is a new politics, they will have a generation. It will be the reverse of Reagan."

Mathew Dowd (Bush 43's campaign manager)

Brian, LA,

I find it unfortunate that many of us just cannot accept that there is a possibility that the values and aspirations and changes we seek as a country are in fact possible. Mr. McCain is many things good but he is also now showing he is and will be controlled by the fringe element of his own party. His views that previously drew us to him are now being compromised to satisfy the extreme right. He is also trying the same old political practice of attack by proxy allowing for deniability. He is showing that he is not the independent mavrick he holds himself out to be.

Candi, yuba city, california

The chattering classes don't get it. They're so immersed in the daily dance inside the Beltway that they don't know what the American people are thinking. Those people are quiescent, mostly - but they're not stupid. The Bush administration has an almost unblemished record of incompetence, cronyism, pandering, lies, secrecy, authoritarianism, illegality, and fear-mongering - and the people, the majority of them, know this, know it in their hearts. Along comes this man who tells interest groups what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, who is _honest_ with us (recall his response to "Did you inhale?"), and who reminds us in a fundamental way what America used to stand for, why America was a shining light in the world, and that WE CAN DO BETTER. Is it any wonder that people from all political stripes are joining him? When you've had a foul taste in your mouth for a long time, a little clear water is likely to make you giddy, even as it cleanses you.

John Tutt, Gig Harbor, WA

Obama is a complete fraud. Nobody knows the real truth yet but they will. These are the people that make Obama the fraud that he is:

Bill Ayers from the Weathermen
Tony Rezko
Frank Marshall David
Jeremiah Wright and Louis Farrakahn

Bill Ayers is a terrorist who is still Obama's friend. Rezko has ties to Middle East banks and was born in Syria and has know Obama for fourteen years. Frank Marshall David was a member of Communist party in the seventies and was Obama's mentor. Jeremiah Wright has given an award to Louis Farrakahn, and this is Obama's pastor, and the same church where Obama was married.

Can we trust Obama with his hand next to the "button"?

LC, L.A.,

Stop with the "Republicans Are Racist" junk.

Did you know?

The Democrats filibustered the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
If was only because of a HIGHER percentage of Republicans voting for it that it got through.
The 'K K K' was an offshoot of the Democratic party?
There is ONE member of Congress that was a member of the K K K - (Byrd). He's a Democrat.
Byrd was also a Grand Wizard!
The first black elected to Congress? A Republican 100+ YEARS AGO!
The first black mayor? Republican
And on... and on...

It's funny, conservatives want EQUAL rights. That means that nobody gets special treatment.
Democrats want to use race in decisions (for only certain races... just ask Asian-Americans).

And somehow... a large portion of the public believes that it's conservatives that are racist.

My goodness.

If you are a Democrat, all races are NOT created equal.

Why do you call Repubs or Conservatives the racist party?
Read a history book. You need it!

Ster, Denver, CO

It seems a gross injustice that after the long years of suffering experienced by African-Americans and the more recent hard fought progress, the first black President of the US could well be the son of a Kenyan man and a white middle class woman, a fact compounded by the fact that the significant part of Obama’s childhood spent in the US was when he was brought up by his white middle class grandparents. To finally see an African-American President sitting behind the desk of the Oval office would be a major moment in righting the wrongs in America’s history; how sad if that honour fell to this usurper.

MN, London, UK

Thank you, Mr. Baker. You have beautifully expressed what many of we battle-scarred old Camelot veterans are thinking as the Obama Express picks up steam. We Yanks worship at the feet of any messiah who promises to save us from ourselves -- right before we wake up and crucify him for trying to do just that. In the (paraphrased) words of another old song: "We fall in love too easily, we fall in love too fast, we fall in love too terribly hard for love to ever last".

V. Richard, Tulsa, Oklahoma

It's obvious Baker is working from old information. John McCain does not oppose torture by the US. An intelligence bill was presented that, among other things, would ban waterboarding. A technique that McCain himself was subjected to, and stated plainly that it was torture. He voted against the bill.

John McCain used to be against lobbyists, but the NYT article notwithstanding, has backpedalled on that as well. Charlie Black, a registered lobbyist is one of McCain's closest advisers. He does his normal lobbying job on the phone from the same campaign bus as McCain.

Rick Davis owns a lobbying firm (Davis, Manafort, Inc) , of which Steve Schmidt, and Mark McKinnon both work for. All three are senior McCain advisors.

John, Los Angeles,

Allison from Texas - in fact, the Pentagon accounced in 2004 that they intended to significantly reduce the number of troops in Germany.

You can't be serious that we are still holding troops in Germany in 2008 to prevent a re-establishment of German military might post-WW2.

Neither does it does weight as a logistical argument either - prior to the detachment of troops to Operation Iraqi freedom, the Austrian goverment objected to US troops passing through Austria's borders, hence requiring them to take expensive and time consuming detours which delayed deployment to the Middle East.

The last thing America needs right now is another foreign policy hawk. The argument that no-one has to right to question McCain over foreign policy just because he's a veteran is just ludicrous.

Andrew Coxon, New York, USA

I think everybody has to wake up. The American people are tired of the same ole' politics as usualThe reason for the Obama surge is because he inspires people! Americans want a drastic departure from Bush who cannot intelligently put 2 sentences together without looking like a joke. Don't be afraid of change! Obama reminds people of both Reagan and JFK, in that he can bring people together. Americans are dying every day over in Iraq, and the average American is not going to stand another 4 years of the same with McCain. Yes, McCain has served our country honorably for half a century. Nobody is denying that. But we need someone in there now that all the other countries out there can respect, and have communication with. McCain is like 74 years old, time for him to retire and go fishing somewhere. There is a reason there is more turnout this election time than any other time in American history, and its because the American people believe in his message of hope, and thats what matters.

Ryan, Newburgh, New York, USA

"No, it will because Republican operatives, up to their old tricks, will have swift-boated and smeared Obama"

Is that trick like the 60 minutes National Guard piece or the recent McCain New York Times piece? If it was such a smear then why hasn't Kerry released his Navy records when he said he would? Make sure you take a close look at both sides when you want to accuse. Politics is dirty all around.

Phil, Boston, MA

I am confused by all the GOP kool-aid drinkers who seem to think that allowing the Bush tax cuts to expire are a disaster for the economy. The Bush tax cuts CAUSED much of the problem we face now, and if the economy slips into the nightmare of stagflation, it will be Bush's and the GOP's fault for lying about the cost of the war in Iraq, then cutting taxes while using deficit spending to prop up economic indicators in a shell game that made the rich richer with little or no benefit for the middle class. Our corporate and high income tax rates are much lower now than they have been during most of the economic booms in US history. The tax burden on the wealthy is NOT a factor holding back economic growth. The massive federal deficit, and stagnant income growth for middle class and poor Americans, IS the cause of the current problems. Put down the kool-aid and read a real economics textbook, not a supply-side fantasy novel.

rapchat, seattle,

The Brits would love to have McCain as the next US President. We would be in Iraq for the next 100 years and, in doing so, bankrupt the US economy and keep the pound and Euro healthy.

Obama brings a fresh air to the stagnant (or worse) condition of our society. Our european friends should get ready for the brave new world of US dominance.

Ron Maggiore, Mandeville, USA/LA

McCain and Obama are victims of an American obsession with packaging people and issues into nice tight little easy to swallow but often misleading capsules.

Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, talk about an attempt to gain the attention of a viewing public and avoid the substance and embrace a battle of icons.

Not that it matters but shouldn't decisions be made on facts and avoid illusory visions created by those who profit from packaged but not real media coverage.

All of this media hype reminds me of the wise pundits who just this past summer had elected Hillary Clinton the first female president of the United States. Gosh, I don't know if we can't believe media pundits and 'experts' who can we trust to lead our flock of sheep?

That settles it, I need to back off the caffeine and quit talking with my rural redneck family. Too hyper and way to much common sense is the result.

Matt, Oswego, Illinois

Wow, the dollar will devalue, the economy will become stagnant and the national debt will skyrocket if Obama is elected? So, just what the heck is happening now, under the regime of a tax-cutting, corporate-friendly "conservative". My how we ignore the present to become a pundit of the future! If the current policies of "compassionate conservatism" are an indication of what should be, then please, by all means lecture me further on what decade I can expect their policies to bear fruit? Pundits love ignore the fact that conservatives like Reagan and Bush CREATED the massive debt during their tenure. Yet, somehow, pundits seem to have twisted this to appear as though liberals conspired to do so through social programs. If you wish to create a culture of subsidizing corporations, while the federal government racks up massive debt to pay for those subsidies, please take an economics course and see where that leads...oops, I forgot, we are currently seeing the effects right now!

Chuckles, Seattle,

I really hope that IF Obama is elected that he won't be able to do half the things he promises. Nearly everything that he promises is scary (socilized medicine, raising taxes, social spending, and military pacifism).

He and his followers believe that terrorism can be stopped by getting the radical islamists to like us. Europeans have tried to pacify them for decades, yet one newspaper cartoon last year set off a powderkeg of explosions.

Even if we did everything the terrorists asked, we could never satisfy them. Free societies simply cannot pacify these radicals since we cannot and will not censor our free speach and freedom of religion. They will always be able to find something to become angry and violent over.

Jeremy, Dallas, Texas

I wish Obama all the luck in the world...right up until the day after the Democratic Convention. Nice guy and a great future. But, he does lack experience, which equates to wisdom and "depth" (or, at least it should equate to those things).

I'll be voting for McCain on ideaological grounds. Not because of race. Though, I don't disagree that a lot of Americans will refuse to elect a minority, I think that group is getting smaller.

Right now, I think for the sake of the nation (and corners of the world this nation impacts), the important thing is get Obama the nomination.

For his lack of experience, he does have character and "smarts" and that's two clicks up from She-who-must-not-be-named.

Dan'l, Portland, US/Maine

There is no way the majority of Americans over 30 are going to vote for Obama. Although he likable and inspirational, he comes accross as to naive and unprepared to be the C-in-C.

As for the attempt to portray McCain as a warmonger: he has had as much first hand experience with the horrors of war as any American, one of his sons is in the Marines, another is at the Naval Academy. He would be the last person to waste lives.

E.Budvis, Ventura, CA,

I'm a Republican from McCain's home state of Arizona. Many of us here - though we greatly respect his service to our country - don't like him or his politics all that much. We will vote for him anyway.

Obama simply does not have the qualifications or experience at this point to lead the US - and that ought to be apparent to even a ten-year old.

What's even scarier than an unqualified president is the very real possibility that political correctness will run amok. If a nation's voters can NOT discuss, analyze, or even challenge the ideas and programs of its leaders without being called "racist", it is in grave trouble. This is where an Obama presidency will lead.

Ginny, Scottsdale, Arizona

Mr. Baker is incisive and exactly correct in his comments. Eiropeans should take heed of his thoughts regarding the present presidential elections in the USA.

Jose Mazon, Cuba, NY 14727

Jose A. Mazon, Cuba, USA / NY

Noel, I don't think Baker saying that it indicated racism, just that it's what the rest of the world would love to think the US would refuse to elect an African-American.

I buy that.

Michael Madison, Nassau County, NY

I think as we finally get to hear how Mr. Obama has voted in the past, and where he stands on the issues and things like taxation....he's going to look more and more like the perfect President, of Cuba that is.

Chris, NYC,

Most of Obama's beliefs have been soundly disproven already by the historic failure of the Carter administration at all levels. For a person to still advocate such policies requries them to be either deceptive or simple.

Mojo Wilkins, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Wasn't it "Sir" Roger Bacon who said, "Hope is a good breakfast, but a bad dinner" ? Do you think he foresaw Obama?

Don Pullen, Ocala, USA, Florida

Mr. Baker offers some much-needed perspective on this wacked-out campaign.

Did the BBC really say that about Jimmy Carter? I guess you had to have lived in the U.S. to appreciate his self-righteous incompetence.

Bill, Dallas,

EUROPE will deem AMERICA racist?

*The world's wealthiest immigrants per capita are in AMERICA.

*More immigrants try to come to AMERICA over Europe.

*EUROPEANS started the slave trades and colonized the world.

*EUROPE has frequent RIOTS by its depressed minorities.

*EUROPE constantly whines for its "European identity" and there's always rows about banning Hijabs in public, etc.

America isn't perfect. But Europe lecturing America on race is like George W Bush lecturing Barack Obama on how to give a speech.

J Knight, VIRGINIA, USA

I like Obama, but his candidacy is becoming more cult-like with each passing day. It is disconcerting to the average voter, attempting to make a sound decision about their vote, with all of the superfluous rhetoric not backed with tangible solutions. I have read both of his books and have found him to be uplifting. But is this enough? The emotion that he is generating seems to be misplaced. And is kind of scary.

The media's support of him is one-sided and does not give both sides of the story. Based on this one-sided approach, I have had to scour the net to determine both Obama and Clinton's position on a number of issues (shame on the media!). My conclusion, Obama is not as good nor is Clinton as bad as the media portrays these two candidates. It did seem that Clinton brought substance to the debate last night. When I vote on Tuesday, I too, like many Ohio voters, will be charged with deciding whether style or substance will prevail. These are difficult times and we REAL solutions

Steven, Cleveland, OH

It's quite simple. Mr. Obama is a danger to the well-being of the future American economy in a big way. The current stagnation of the US economy has worldwide consequences, which will most likely last into 2010. At that time, Mr. Obama has pledged to let the Bush tax cuts expire, thus further cutting into an already fragile economy, and plunging the US into further recession.

This, accompanied by the fact that he has ALSO pledged new programs in excess of one trillion dollars, will have disastrous results, not only for the US, but the world at large. We will be looking at a repeat of the late 1970s all over again.

I don't like Mr. Obama's platform, nor do I like Mr. McCain's. But, unless we curb taxation and spending, we're all going to be in a lot of trouble.

Greg, Marlton, NJ

What a crock. We in Iowa got a good look at all the candidates, and we weren't bewildered or bewitched. We took the measure or a man and came to the rational understanding that Obama has the temperament and judgement to lead this country. The campaign rhetoric of all these people will fade, but the ability to discern the issues of the day will remain. I like McCain as well, and of all dems and repubs he is my second choice. But he is eight years too late. Is Obama four years too early? I don't think so, but we will take his upside over McCain's downside. By the way, Senator McCain would fit in well with Matthau and Jack Lemmon.

K Cook, Iowa, USA

It's amazing how many armchair quaterbacks are claiming to know everything there is to know about their chosen candidate and their opponent - It has always been the norm in every election since Lincoln to try and sway the public into voting for their choice through character assasination, which is why politics is not for wimps - Figures, facts and public records are under constant scrutiny and distortion by the media and its subordinates - Individual choice should be made through careful research from both sides of the fence in order to make an intelligent decision on who should represent the USA - Fortunately, the system of checks and balances that are in place prevents the Executive branch from dictating policy exclusively, which in essence limits the President's ability to take on the world without majority approval - The choice to invade Iraq had majority approval in Congress, so Bush is not soley responsible - Each new election offers a change in direction - There is always hope

WTaylor, London, UK

Racist?
A vote for a republican candidate over a black candidate (I've voted republican for president since I was old enough to vote, [and in the military from 1976-1980, under Carter]) indicates racism?

Does that mean that EVERY person that isn't white is more qualified than ANY white person?

I don't agree with that presumption, even if I do vote for Obama.

Noel, Rochester, NH

How can anyone take someone who sings Bomb, Bomb Iran seriously. Not to mention wanting to stay in Iraq for 100 years.

Is that the kind of person the world wants to see as Commander in Chief.

You might say that Obama is not necessarily all sweetness and light but on closer examination people should be far more worried about McCain.

Jonathan, London,

Great article Mr. Baker. I completely agree with every word of it. I just wanted to correct some of the false statements made by some of the other commentators.
Firstly, Mr. Coxon, like Senator Obama has grossly misrepresented Senator McCain's "100 years in Iraq" comment. He was merely stating that we could potentially have the same type of military presence in Iraq that we have in Germany and Japan. We've been in those countries since the end of WW2 - more than 60 years ago. Unless Senator Obama feel we should leave those countries too than their criticism of Senator McCain on this issue is ridiculous (as far as I know only 1 presidential candidate has the right to criticize McCain's comment and that's Ron Paul.)
In addition, Mr. Jennings is wrong about McCain and waterboarding. Senator McCain voted against a bill that would limit the CIA's interrogation techniques to those in the Army Field Manual. Plus McCain is responsible for a 2005 law that outlaws waterboarding.

Allison Murphy, Austin, TX

I don't agree that John McCain is being maligned. I've read loads of articles about the good things he's done and about his policy positions.
The more ultra-conservatives in the US rail against him the more appealing he is in the eyes of foreigners.

Dunc, Auckland, NZ

it is interesting how many commentators characterize both Sen. Obama and his supporters as naive. In truth, relatively few of us go to the big rallies. Relatively few of us are enthusiastic young people. What we are is people tired of the constant political infighting so clearly displayed in Sen. Clinton and Sen. McCain. Attack first politics. Sen. Obama has already made an important contribution to the American body politic by injecting inspiration & enthusiasm into the process. After 7 years of Bush & the embarrassing Clinton presidency, we can use some optimism and a sense that there is a hopeful direction we can pursue.

Sen. Obama is a risk. But so McCain who plays to the same base as Bush and really does seem wedded to many of Bush's policies. Four more years of that? No thank you. It is incredibly naive to think that much of anything will change under McCain. Maybe it won't under Obama either, but there is a greater, more realistic hope that it will.

Herb, Lansing, Michigan

Sadly the GOP decided to suppress their most intelligent candidate and will now have to depend on another spending neocon that might even be more Bush-league than Bush himself... and older!

Oh, did I mention that probably half of all conservatives don't even like the guy?

However, Mr. Baker is also probably right that Obama will be severely limited in what he will be able to accomplish as President -- Mr. Bush has seen to that.

Rob Miller, Halifax, NS, Canada

John McCain has veered sharply to the right recently, giving up both his opposition to torture and his previously stated belief that President Bush's tax cuts were economically unsound and should not be made permanent.

He did both these things to pacify the extreme right of his party, even though his only remaining opposition in the Republican primaries was a candidate with no chance of catching him.

While candidates typically veer to the left or right during primaries, and then tack to the center during the general election, John McCain's shift from beloved maverick to waterboard-enabler has bewildered independents who once yearned for McCain atop the Republican ticket. It will be interesting to see which McCain shows up for the general election - the driver of the straight talk express, or the Bush-Cheney apologist that McCain morphed into to beat a dreadfully weak slate of Republican candidates.

Craig, Boston, MA

The idea that a President Obama thinks he is somehow going to leap tall buildings in a single bound is absurd.
What Obama is saying is that America can leap tall buildings if its citizens work hard and work together.
These are two very important distinctions that are apparently too much for Mr. Barker's intellect to grasp.
Perhaps Mr. Barker is in love with the concept that societies can do nothing for themselves so they should not even try and should therefore place all of their efforts in more worthwhile pursuits.
Pursuits like making his friends richer while themselves poorer.

P. Walker, Germantown, Tennessee

Read THE MAN by Irving Wallace

Ian Payne, WALSALL,

I think that, provided the campaigns are fairly clean (big if), a McCain Obama contest could go a long way towards accomplishing what I think they both want - an America that is not driven exclusively by special interests.

The Bush era, has proved the necessity of the intangibles in politics - the perception of integrity and fairness among other things - by utterly ignoring them. That is what JFK represented to the world, and it can translate into better relations and indeed fewer conflicts. In a word, it's called goodwill.

But, it starts with flushing out the Karl Roves, who use tactics not worthy of a democracy.

David MacKinnon, Amstelveen, Netherlands

I read that in Tennesse even the Republican party has decided to stop referring to Obama by his full legal name, Barack Hussein Obama. Apparently political correctness decrees that pronouncing his full name is racist and anti-muslim. But he has taken great pains to tell us that he is not now nor ever has been muslim. How could using his full name- which his campaign steadfastly avoids to do- be either antimuslim or even anti-Obama since it is both muslim and his name? What's next? Will political cartoonists be allowed to draw his caracature without death threats?

philip, torino, italy

hmmm... maybe obama is generating anticipation that can't be satisfied. but then those folks who believe that most strongly are the same ones who were quite convinced that george bush would not do damage. you know, we'd just be way ahead if obama could get in there and do no damage. but i suspect, and many others suspect, that he very well could do some good.

michael, Chicago, IL, USA

Mac is a great candidate. Mr. Baker is absolutely correct in his assesment that he has done everything that Senator Obama has promised to do already.

Josh, Orange County, CA, USA

Sure, McCain's a decent guy, but hardly the hero you portray here. He said he would close Guantanamo a while back, but in the meantime voted that waterboarding should be considered a legal "enhanced interrogation technique". And in the interest of winning the hardcore conservative vote, he has blithely repudiated many of the other moderate, even progressive positions he once held. The Luke Skywalker-Darth Vader narrative is a caricature, yes, but caricatures are revealing precisely because they're drawn from an underlying reality. Let's not forget that even the bad guys are fighting, in the eyes of their own people, for what they consider good.

Jeff Jennings, Milan, Italy

American culture come out of the barrel of a gun, where would Hollywood be without them?
So for the rest of us is it 'Love me or I will shoot!'

John , Leeds , UK

Mr. Baker, you are so spot on. I wish your column could be printed in every newspaper in America. While it's tempting to get inspired by Mr. Obama, realistically, and come on, he can't do even half of what he promises. Anyone over 30 years of age with a decent grip on reality should know this. There are going to be a lot of long faces here in the States a year after his election when he fails to walk on water and raise the dead. I'm not a big fan of McCain...he's way too lax on the illegal immigrant problem...but I think he has a better grasp of what is and isn't possible, as does Clinton.

Robbie, San Diego, CA,

Great. Not supporting Obama = racism. Sounds like old politics to me and the simple thinking that many Obama supporters have.

Charles, Cincinnati,

Obama is less than 7% African (black), he is Arabic. It is an odd twist of political correctness that prevents us from mentioning this fact.

Richard, Tehachapi, USA

Well written piece. Barack Obama is a Kennedy, Ted Kennedy. Obama is the most liberal US Senator in Congress whose record will be exposed in the fall campaign. "Obamamania" will fade, as all fads do, once people understand his rhetoric about uniting people is really a smoke screen for many ideological views not accepted by most Americans. John McCain's distinquished service to his country both in uniform and Congress, real achievements vice his opponent largely empty rhetoric, and efforts to affect change in Washington will be the deciding factor.
Its interesting that while Democrats crow over primary turnouts twice as high as Republicans, in head-to-head polls Obama is only tied a few percentage points ahead in the polls. And this is with overwhelmingly positive media coverage, and few hard questions about his record. Where will he be when things change?

Charles, Texas,

As an independent voter I will be closely watching who McCain selects as his running mate.
It is obvious that, if elected McCain (because of his age), will be a one term president. Thus his choice for VP is very important.

I am hoping against hope that Obama does not have the serious flaws that both JFK and Jimmy Carter exhibited while in office.

Pete, Melbourne , FL USA

When we Yanks(left or right) respond to The Times articles I usually notice a ferocious attitude that's almost always missing from the British commenters. Are you better writers or is the level of civil discourse a bit higher?

Maybe the U.S. is just an angrier country. Don't disagree with me. We have a lot of guns.

Brendan Clancy, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA

America's Blair?

Ian Mackay, Inverness, UK

McCain is also the man who has pledged to uphold George Bush's tax agenda and maintain troops in Iraq for 'up to 100 years' if needs be. And his foreign policy agenda doesn't so much as mimic the Bush Doctrine, as way surpasses it.

He doesn't represent a break with the past, he's simply the next guy in a line of failed GOP candidates. He's the guy that lost last time for being the change candidate against George W.

If he takes on either Hillary or Obama, the contrast is going to be frighteningly stark, which is of course why it's being caricatured.

It's a shame you can't see past your own conservative agenda to see that Obama offers something different to many Americans, and that the Republican candidates quite frankly, have been hopelessly inept (Guiliani), religious wonks (Huckabee and Romney), or anonymous non-starters (Ron Paul, rest of the field).

Andrew Coxon, New York, USA

"if Mr McCain wins it will be not because of his superior experience or the quality of his ideas, but because America is irredeemably racist."

No, it will because Republican operatives, up to their old tricks, will have swift-boated and smeared Obama, and fear-mongered the American public into voting for their candidate again.

But as a people we are learning, albeit ever so slowly. Once bitten, twice shy the saying goes.

But I really had to laugh when I read that McCain had " tackle(d) the role of money in politics..." Not quite. The man has gamed the system as far as campaign contributions are concerend, accepting more in "bundled" contributions than any other candidate, and with unpaid lobbyists at the highest levels of his campaign organization.

Just one more reason Americans are rejecting the way politics have been conducted in this country, instead "standing for change," and are voting for Obama in droves.

Martin , Chicago, Il