Love the column. That's how many of us in the USA feel about Senator Obama. He has "the wind behind him." He is what we need right here, right now.

Marcia, Chicago, USA

To quote an old pol " you're no Jack Kennedy, I knew Jack Kennedy ". Obama thinks he is the Messiah, " the seas will stop rising " etc. LIke all Marxists he has delusions of grandeur, and will blame the peasants when they do not do as they are told. McCain is only marginally better.

Desmond Taylor, HOUSTON, USA Tx

I truly believe that Senator Obama's diverse
ethnic background creates a leader that speaks
to the Universe. We have been waiting for
a global person to lead our country, one with
his education and intelligence, and multi-racial
heritage from his roots in the 50th state.

M. Medina, San Rafael, CA , USA

For decades we Americans have been led by fear. Today Barack Obama feeds our hunger for hope, assuring us that, although it will be difficult, yes, we can solve our problems. Obama is our Churchill. We will elect him President.

Sally, Dallas, USA

Being a "liberal" is not a dirty word. It is a label, and a misused and incorrect one to describe Obama. He's far more centrist and his positions are currently shared by the majority of Americans. Hurrah to the end of Bush & his far-riight neo-con conservative base ywho have deimated the U.S.

Martin , Chicago, USA

I submit that what this article and these comments reveal is that America needs to reform the office of the President if it wants a new kind of politics. It isn t finding a suitable candidate that is the problem, it is an 18 th century institution failing to fit the 21 st century. In the first place, the notion that the public relations hooley of the past few months is producing the right individual to effectively run the world is completely ludicrous. This is an increasingly complex world and if there is to be an Emperor, he needs a new set of clothes.

Henry Percy, London, UK

If Europe is less impressed by Obama, it must be a simple fact: It is racist.
Tim Malanga, London, UK

OMG, are you serious? The huge jump in your logic verges on the insane. Criticism of a non-white person can be about a million other traits, why do you *want* to believe it's all about colour?

Laura Roberts, London, United Kingdom

Andre, I fail to understand where is pride for anyone to hate anyone else based on his skin's color. If Europe is less impressed by Obama, it must be a simple fact: It is racist. People, including Europe, have made America to be a racist place but America is proving to be the real leader again.

Tim Malanga, London, UK

Uh-oh! Watch out Obama - the curse of Mystic Mogg is upon you!!

Mike Giggler, Colchester, UK

I'm afraid Mr. Rees-Mogg's hopes, which are shared by a sizable number of Americans & Europeans, are misplaced. Obama is not the messiah and the world has already seen the limits of American power and influence. The President of the United States cannot save us from ourselves; only God can.

Andrew, Washington, USA

Mr Obama is the most liberal Senator in the US Senate. He firmly believes in redistribution of wealth. Doing business in the US is the 2nd highest in the world. Obama would make it the 1st. He/ Dem's will stiffle the economy and move us toward the EU type of socialism. No good for technology growth.

sandra thomsen, Santa Barbara, CA, USA

Nice article Bill. Obama speaks thoughtfully and has drawn top-rate people to his team. His policy speech on Cuba is a fine example. Shame he has to trim so as not to alienate the Jewish and guns-for-all lobby.

Clinton has no executive experience whatsoever, a passenger hanging on hubby's coattails

Harry Davies, Galway, Ireland

I happen to agree wih the writer. White, older republican female that will be voting for Obama in the fall.
Cappi, Woodland Hills ca

Claudia Bomicino, Woodland Hills CA, USA

Maybe the World is crying out for an idealistic American president. Sadly, it is not the World that gets to vote. I do not trust the American people to make a rational choice - they re-elected Bush after all. In reality, there is little real difference between the candidates - it's Coke or Pepsi.

Paul, Aldershot, UK

Marie,

Inaccurate. He will lessen the taxes of people making under $200,000 (fair) and will reduce tax burden of the Middle class to the tune of $1,000/per and more if your kids are in college - $4K/per Also our retiries, people over 65, will pay NO TAXES on income of $50,000 or less.

ted, New York , USA

Marie - UK
Incorrect. Your taxes will go down if you make under $200K, Middle Class will get $1K tax break immediately, $4K/per child/per yr for college, 65+, no taxes on 50K income or less.
If rather rich, Obama is not your guy, but these are the facts.

ted, NYC, New York

For those who think Sen. Obama too naive, (an absurd charge onf one who succeeded in Chicago Politics!) I suggest you "google" Pragmatic Obama. Look for two New York Times blogs about his political rise in Chicago....This man is Liberal at heart, but Pragmatic to his very bones. Eyes on the Prize

ScottWa, Roanoke, USA

Empty posturing on Iran, a grim coterie of supporters and advisers who have had their turn, failed and learnt nothing, denying the criminality of those he chooses to associate with, the US electorate's voting Obama into power really would be the triumph of hope over evidence. Experience? He has none

Maxwell, Warrington, UK

I dont think Obama will win.He is a good marketing tool for the USA around the world at the moment,dont' be fool.
From the start,seem Mc Cain has win.
It actually clever to pull Obama,bse the delegates knows he has no real chance to win against McCain!

Marie, London, UK

People forget history. Kennedy was a 50's-60's democrate. He was in favour of tax cuts. He was a veteran. He was an advocate of America's ascendancy.

Obama wants to jack up our taxes. He is weak on the millitary and he benefits from America's weakness.

Hardly someone to run the US.

Bill, Atlanta, GA, US

In the words of JFK: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"

Funny that you compare Obama to JFK when his message is exactly the opposite. Every Obama speech is a string of promises of what his administration will provide for the people.

Matt, Houston, USA

Just read about Barrack Obama's connections to Tony Rezko,who is currently in a Federal Prison.

Peter, Manchester, England

"McCain has to row against the tide."

As the Republican primaries have shown, that is what McCain is best at.

Frederick Davies, Oxford, UK

Mr. Obama is a wonderful orator; however, he would have made a much better and believable candidate 4 or 8 years from now - with some experience under his belt. Right now I believe he's an empty suit. Hillary came on strong at the end - after the news of his pastor's rantings. That says it all.

Gail, Maryville, TN, USA

A well observed piece. However 'idealist' is inaccurate, and as one sharp observer noted on the Senator, 'this man may be soft on the outside, but he is made of steel within.' Obama is no 'Spin-master DJ Blair' folks. Barack Obama has The Gift to be one of America's greatest Presidents, just watch.

Kal W, London, UK

God help America if Obama is as idealistic as everyone says. It's Idealistic poleticians that cause all the problems - Stalin, Hitler and Pol Pot were all Idealists. Now more than ever the world needs the American Super power to be lead by a hard headed realist not an idealist.

Alan Trent, London , UK

Bill Luke - Bill Clinton might have been president when peace was "brokered" in Northern Ireland, but don't kid yourself that it was down to him.

Gareth, Ballymena, NI

Has Obama ever been out of the USA? Has he ever had a proper job? What does he know about running the richest country in the world?
If the answers to these questions are all negative then he will be the next US President. He has the same zero qualifications as one G W Bush and the US is doomed.

T J Harris, Brighton, UK

Many observers of the US elections are naive to say the least. Running on a platform of change Obama has produced nothing substantial in his State/Federal Senate careers to support this. Politicians often state what they believe the electorate wants to hear. I fear this is the just another example.

Alan, Tampa, USA

A great time for America. To have a minority as the de facto nominee for president. What a great time. What an un-deserving, inexperienced, marxist hack to carry that mantle. Others are more deserving. I hope the 50%+ part of the population shows up in November to send him back to Chicago.

Tom, New Hampshire , USA

I and I think the U.S. and the world agrees with Rees-Mogg's article 'Obama like JFK has the wind behind him'.

San Ying, Montreal, Canada

Perhaps President McCain could give Obama a job regenerating the inner cities of America, and growing in experience and wisdom until he is ready for greater responsibility.

Andrew Chapman, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

I also was impressed by Obama - that is until I looked at his voting record. Not voting 30+% of the time. Try to fine one thing Obama has actually done since in the Senate. Speechs are one thing, but the proof is in the pudding and there ain't no pud!

Nona, New York City, USA

Obama is left of Mrs Clinton. Islamic schooled then attended an extreme church that hated America and whites I have never heard such extreme views by a minister supposed to be a man of peace. Worst of all he is very inexperienced & naively wants to talk to the Islamic bitter enemies of the West. Be very careful of trendies giving this man power.

Jas, Alders, UK

Let's clarify a few issues raised here:
1. Lyndon Johnson promised the Kennedy's he would to push Civil Rights through.
2. The Bay of Pigs was approved by Eisenhower before JFK was elected.
3. McCain will have to go further right to garner evangelical and neo-con support, dooming his election.

Charles, Seattle, USA

Kennedy brought on the Berlin Wall, Cuban crisis, Vietnam and Carter brought on Islamic fundentalism. Obama has the record of voting in his brief history of being farther to the left than even Ted Kennedy. It is up to the American voters to decide what they want.

Gene, Gebüg, Germany

Barack wants to take on the oil industry, on the health industry, on some of the biggest banks, on the republicans who are backing the weapon industry... I would be really surprised if he survive the next eight years. It will be much easier for him to get elected then to survive his presidency.

Hess, biel, switzerland

If we are to continue the analogies, it might be worhwhile recalling that JFKennedy, the glamourous idealist, achieved little during his period in ofice compared to that poltical bruiser and arch manipulator, Lyndon Johnson.

Prose isn't enough.

mark, Berkhamsted,

For the American who wrote that the Europeans are considerably more excited about Obama...just think about what you wrote. Do you want a strong America? As an American whose lived abroad 7 years, I would suggest you elect someone who has the admiration of Europe--in fact, the entire world.

Krista, London, UK

"Obama's talent for proposing humane, sensible solutions with uplifting, elegant prose, does fill one with hope".
He said that Jerusalem should be 'the indivisible capital of Israel'. So to get the Jewish vote he gives Israel illegally annexed east Jerusalem, Palestinian land. Not humane but unjust.

William Garrett, Harrow,

Obama. Nobody now asks who he is. He has broken the barrier of our consciousness and now resides there. He was not altogether unknown. He has been known in the confines of the United States as senator; damned good lawyer and a well-educated citizen. It clearly shows that America knows her mind and would give anybody the chance at the highest level

Raageh Shire, Caabudwaaq, Somalia

I have to say I am one of the many who is very excited about the outcome of the USA elections. Like him or not, you have to admit that Obama is an extraordinary man to go up against the Clintons and is still standing. The next couple of months promise fireworks. Obama must not underestimate McCain

Mandy, Blackwater, UK

We had an idealist, until he gained power, then we learn't the truth. His name was Blair.
The US would, in my opinion, be a better place with the proven and experienced Clintons.
Remember who first brokered peace in Ireland, in the mid east and when the US economy was booming.
Keep your idealists

Bill Luke, st helens, U K

Europe, like me, is biased to Obama - Europe is essentially Democrat country, and hence are pearly visions. But for Obama to fulfil his potential, he must win a huge majority and vthen make the most of the first four years to stop the powerful Republican mantra restricting his potential government.

Charlie Peters, Bristol, UK

Is Obama really a "far left socialist"? After 8 decades of hysterical fear of commmunism in the USA, it seems anyone who is not a far right neo-fascist is considered a dangerous left-wing radical. Why does greater social justice have to imply the desire to undermine the state to many Americans?

John Oldfield, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Barack Obama for President of The UNITED States of America.

PulSamsara, Chicago, IL, US of A

I don't know where you get your facts, but Barack Obama is very much an extreme liberal. And the comparisons to John F. Kennedy might not be too welcome; had he not been assasinated, his place in history would be quite different. I too was there, and John F. Kennedy was a poor president.

Carleen, Battle Ground, WA, USA

Is Obama a Black American? Focusing simply on skin colour to justify selection is pathetic. His mother was white and he could just as easily be irish American...closer to the Kennedy's than you thought. and who wants another one of those in power? So far Obama has been lightweight. Lets see policy.

Danny, Manchester,

As an American who would have to live under President Obama, I am considerably less excited than Europeans seem to be. Senator Obama is very intelligent but it will be interesting to see (if he is elected), to see how he handles the large parts of the country that will dislike him from day 1.

Andre, Portland, USA

As I've come to expect, Mr. Rees-Mogg is a voice of fresh air, as well as experience and uncommon good sense. I wish some of the more nehilistic commenters here would take a leaf from his book.

As always, thank you, sir.

Jenny, Grand Rapids, MI US

The 1960 victory was very very close. Obama has a mountain to climb if he is to win. Race is stll, whatever the liberal media say, a big issue in the USA.

Michael Riley, London, London

Great writing. Great comparison with Kennedy. Let's hope the American public can see what you have seen and realise that this man may just be able to change America.

Shani Alexander, London, England

Obama, Clinton, McCain; they are all leagues ahead of the incumbent. I find it hard not to be excited by the prospect of Obama as the next US president and I hope that Clinton's tenacity has not damaged his chances.

Paul, Chiswick, UK

JFK may have had the wind behind him but one would hope if Barak Obama becomes President he achieves somewhat more than JFK did.The Bay of Pigs was a monumental cockup from which JFK never recovered and the Cuban missile Crisis although satisfactorily resolved was the last success JFK had

Ed Corbett, bridgend,

Henry, Sligo, Ireland Of course he was planning on pulling out of Vietnam, because the assassination of Diem was supposed to make that possible.. Upon learning of Diệm's ouster and death, Ho Chi Minh is reported to have said, "I can scarcely believe the Americans would be so stupid."

r. burns, Tampa, Fla

The comment "It was tough minded cynical old Lyndon Johnson who actually got the legislation through,not Kennedy." is a bit misleading - Kennedy was dead from an assassins bullet. How could he push it through?

Paul, Toronto, Canada

I agree with the analysis. Yet, I think Obama is something even more than Kennedy. I think we will see he has no personal skeletons in his closet. He walks the talk. Men like this seldom lead as the nasties like Hillary put them aside. He will return America to her true path & global leadership.

Paul, Toronto, Canada

Before attacking Obama readers of this article should also read Obama's "Dreams from my Father" and his "Audicity of Hope" to get a sense of him. Calling him names and even a "socialist" hardly adds to political discourse. He also is more conservative than you think...

stephen petty, santa Rosa, U.S.A

It's hard not to like Obama. But, i believe your making a mistake in counting McCain out of it so soon. Mrs. Obama, whom they've been hiding from public consumption somewhat since her "i've never been proud of my country" comment, is a ticking time bomb that could explode in the democrates face.

erin, new york, usa

There is only one potential candidate that can make a difference to the United States in its current predicament and that is Ron Paul. Is there really any difference between Obama, Clinton or McCain? Except for different personalities, they are all the same. Welcome to American Idol politics!

Pauli, Lonson,

Obama certainly has the wind - the blowhard wind of spin. I would prefer to reserve my judgement on Obama until we see how he manages to bring peace to the world without appeasing all the radical groups around the world. The last thing we want the US to do is become a Baldwin and Chamberlain.

Len, Perth, Western Australia

also, he reportedly called his wife a filthy name according to thereal mccain he is not what he seems!he is my senator, so what?

sheila, tempe, arizona, usa

Jon Livesey, Sunnyvale CA USA, what do you mean by "we owe Vietnam and 50000 dead to JFK"? if you actually did some research you would learn that JFK was planning on pulling out of Vietnam and that the war was escalated significantly under the Johnson administration.

Henry, Sligo, Ireland

Yes Obama can talk the talk and his speeches have the right light and shade.
However, has anybody analysed just what he is actual saying?
Nothing at all like Tony Blair before him.
' Have I got news for you'TV featured just one speech. All about hope and travelling the road, but nothing else

Prudence Eely Bond McGuire, London, England UK

It was tough minded cynical old Lyndon Johnson who actually got the legislation through,not Kennedy. Idealism is fine - it makes people feel warm and fuzzy but it is dirty old politics - calling in favours, knowing where bodies are buried - that gets things done.

Carol, London , UK

As someone who can remember how people praised Jimmy Carter and his "conscience", I am sceptical that personal merits make a good President. I am even more sceptical about the rose-tinted JFK legends. We owe him VietNam and 50000 dead, in case anyone has forgotten.

jon livesey, Sunnyvale, CA/USA

McCain has an ungovernable temper he even turned on his own wife. He called her the Cword and I can't believe that the press isn't making more of it. His temper alone would make him un qualified for any sensitive job.

Iona, Franklin, Ma

Mister Rees-Mogg, I must say I think exacly the same way over Obama, McCain and miss Clinton.

Yet, I fear that Barack Obama or any Democrat can be destroyed by yet another Swift boat smear attack. Hopefully, you are right, and McCain will have to face a hard uphill battle.

F. Duval, Montreal, Canada

Kennedy won in 1960 by just over 100,000 votes out of roughly 68 million cast. Coincidentally it was all those dead voters in Chicago that won it for him

r. burns, Tampa, Florida

Obama has wind, you've just misplaced it.
"He's not an extreme Liberal" -he's a Far Left Socialist!

Black Liberation Theology is Marxist. He's been exposed to 20 years of radical Wright, radical Ayers and radical Soros his financier.

The US isn't ready for Socialism!

If he's elected, God help us!

David B. Monier-Williams, Scottsdale , US Arizona

WR-M's endorsement of Obama is unexpected. But he surely takes more than a step too far in speaking as if McCain has already lost. Race is a double edge sword for Obama - post-Katrina guilt and a need for reconcilliation helped him. Public fear of his wife's acute sense of grievance will not

Bob T, London, UK

Either America gets new hope and a new direction, or the American people will become as cynical as one finds in so many areas of the world. Let us hope this Rees-Mogg is completely correct.

mark gill, gordonville, America

How refreshing to see the confidence the writer shows and I am praying that he right because we do need a change in our politics in this country.

Jimmie Griffin, Waterbury, USA