Barack Obama has held public office since 1996, starting in the Illinois state government.

Hilary Clinton has held public office since 2000.

Who has more experience ?

We aren't electing a senator to the federal government. We are electing president. So don't think experience in the federal congress is the alpha & the omega.

Anyway, wouldn't it be nice if the next "Leader of the free world" had some integrity.

Dave G Cawdell, Phoenix, Arizona

Obama ran a masterful campaign in Iowa. Expect his inexperience to be hi-lighted in the coming months, if he survives Hillary. Americans seem to be more interested in likeability rather than experience for the most important job in the world. If HIllary and Obama are smart they will find a role for Joe Biden and/or Chris Dodd in their administration. These two guys are loyal, honest, brilliant statesmen that got shunned for the celebrity candidates. Sad state of affairs in the world of nuclear Pakistan, climate change, and bin Laden.

jlm, Tucson, AZ, USA

Laura Roberts is correct in her appraisal of Obama's race. He is of mixed races. Senator Obama's racial heritage should be irrelevant any way.

Watts Taylor, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Esqueese me please, but I read in TIME magazine that in a survey, only 8% of participants cared for "experience". Ha!

And JFK didn't have that much political experience yet he is the President that I admire and respect. In fact, even Dubya had no real foreign policy experience.

Ed, U.K.,

BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!
The World is going to be a much better place!!
My soul is singing!! :-)

QLinderman, San Ramon, California

sitting here in Portsmouth, New Hampshire as one of the state's many independent voters, there is the sense of something historic in our vote this upcoming Tuesday. Do we vote for a continuation of another political dynasty entrenched in the status quo or do we challenge ourselves to consider a reverse of all we have gone through over the past 7 years. I'm sorely tempted to consider the the latter and vote for Obama.

Liam, Portsmouth, NH

This man will not be the first black President of the USA.
He is not a blackman.
His mother was white and his father,black.
He is therefore of mixed race.
Such persons are called "coloureds".

alan maddox, wirral, england

Barack has demonstrated a long-term commitment to his message that it is "us", "we", and "everyone" who can and need to work together to effect the real change he is talking about. Barack is actually the most experienced candidate, having worked at the grassroots level as a community organizer in the most economically challenged area of Chicago, taught constitutional law, and served in the legislative branch at the state and national level. Obama has as much, if not more, experience as Reagan, both Clintons, and W. He has put his money where his mouth is, which is a large part of his appeal. Obama has a vision and message that the majority of this country and the world is hungering for. He is running to fulfill that vision, not promote himself. I am confident that the American electorate will do the right thing and elect the candidate who demonstrates integrity and embodies the best of what this country stands for and hopes to be. I'm excited for November!

Saffoula, Seattle, WA

I wholeheartedly agree with the UK resident...Senator Obama proved the naysayers wrong. Whatever happens in the general election, I trust that Americans who were so patriotic after 9/11 will unite and learn how to work together. I am cautiously optimistic....inasmuch as Senator Obama won Iowa (one of the whitest states in the U.S); he can do well elsewhere.

Let's give credit where it is due. Who knew this would ever happen, I savor the proud moments for Africans in the Diaspora, as well as supporters of other ethnic groups. The world is watching us and we are estatic.

Ronke, Saginaw, Michigan

I just don't see Obama winning the presidency.

Way too many potential negatives. Some silly, some not so silly.

I'd be surprised if he got 40% of the vote in a general election.

gb, Austin, USA

I was dubious about Obama for along time, mainly because of his relative youth and inexperience. However, the more I read about him the more I like was he stands for, and the more I see him the more I think he could be an inspiring world leader.
While I'm here, why is it that he is consistently referred to as black when he is mixed race?

Gatz, Chelmsford, UK

A word of caution - don't make too much of the vote in Iowa nor the vote in New Hampshire. Both states are considered by many as moderate states, i.e., they tend to take the middle of the road and vote for candidates who are considered moderates. The voters in most states will vote for candidates who take firm stances on the issues of the day. The elections for those states are a ways off.

Garry, Colorado Springs, US/Colorado

To Laura from London:

It may be factually incorrect to call Obama "black" in the racial sense of the word, but it is not incorrect to do so in a cultural sense. In the US, if someone is even one-fourth black, they are often described as "black" or "African American" (and often self-describe this way too). It's a cultural hold over from the Jim Crow, segregationist era in American history when segregationist states legally defined who was and who wasn't allowed to sit at which counter or use which water fountain. Younger Americans are inclined to junk what has often been referred to as the "one-drop rule" in America, but a majority of Americans still clearly see Obama as black.

Brett Champion, Alexandria, Virginia, US

Repeat after me: black + white = grey. 50% black + 50% white does not make a black person, it makes a mixed race person. It is absolutely factually incorrect and illogical to keep labelling this man as black, when he is as much white as he is black.

Laura Roberts, London, UK

To say Obama voted NO against Iraq war is completely misleading - Obama has only been in the Senate two years.

Obama energy and credits are truly impressive, but frankly he lacks experience. Clinton is not the only candidate runnning against him.

It's a long road from Iowa to the convention and much more should be seen and heard from all candidates before a decision is made.

Linda, New York City, USA

Obama sounds just the sort of guy we need on this side of the pond. Clinton and co may have all the connections in some places but they are so old money. She claims 35 years experience of doing what? And what has the US got to show for it? A nation traumatised by Iraq, an economy falling apart and serious environmental challenges. I've just had it with identikit politicians stuffed with money and spouting cliches. Obama looks like the tomorrow I hope for

Ray Cobbett, Emsworth,

There is only one person who can stop Obama - Obama himself.

maurice, Tauranga, N Zealand

As a Brit looking on it seems like deja-vu. Obama like the Kennedy's bring generational change and with it he presents a huge threat to the establishment and vested interest. He, like David Cameron, brings a freshness & genuine new ideas to the jaded, failed leadership of our two countries. I truly hope that we see an Obama presidency but I suspect there is a real risk that his flame of hope and passion will be doused prematurely just like the Kennedy's because of the threat he poses to the established order.

Mike Donnellan, Woodford, Cheshire

In cold and snowy Canada we watched our dearest cousin and neighbour get hopelessly over the last 7 years, and a terrible price has been paid by the entire world.

In Barack Obama, America is finding its soul again. Overnight the great lantern that is the American dream was lit and lifted high again beside the golden door, blazing its way through every door and illuminating darkness around the globe.

A weary world waits breathlessly. Of course he won't be perfect--he doesn't need to be. The dream is.

Sandy Garossino, Vancouver, Canada

Who cares

stanley , Haifa ,

Barack is forward thinking individual that is a once in a lifetime figure. I will vote for him and donate money to his campaign because I know he is the best person for the job.

malick, Chicago, il

I tend to vote Republican, but I'd vote for Obama over Romney or Giuliani in a general election (and behind McCain, Huckabee, and Thompson). I would never vote for Clinton or Edwards. If the Democrats want to win, they will nominate Obama.

Mike Manning, Knoxville, Tennessee

This may sound strange because their positions on most issues are very different but there are only two candidates for president for whom I would vote...John McCain and Barack Obama. My reasons are simple. They are the only two candidates who have shown themselves to be leaders. They are the only two who have shown themselves to be honest and trustworthy. They are the only two who have any desire whatsoever to put the welfare of the nation above their own and, as such, are the only two who have any chance of putting the divisions of the past 40 years behind us where they belong.

If neither is chosen to represent his party I will not vote. If one or the other is chosen I will vote for him no matter who his opponent is. If both are chosen I will have a hard time deciding because I actually respect both a great deal. It will be a problem for me but the problem of having two good men to choose from would surely beat the situation we have faced for years now...that of having none.

David Dial, Akron, Ohio

I watch the American Presidential race from Australia and fervently pray that the hope Barak Obama talks of and strongly believes in is realised for America and the world through his nomination as Democat presidential candidate and then as your President.

We in Australia have made significant changes in our direction with a new Prime Minister who offers similar hope through a more ethical approach as a member of the international community in this changing world.

I urge Americans to embrace the potential that is being offered to you so that your powerful country can once more share its place proudly on the world stage through Barak Obama as your leader and know that the change he talks of is a matter of a vote away.

Maureen Willson, Melbourne , Victoria Australia

What I appreciate in Obama is that he voted NO to the Iraq War
when doing so was risky and thought of as antiamerican.
He did say NO to war.

Ana Medina, Brooklyn, USA

I'm always amazed to read, after all the credentials and credits that are listed for Senator Obama, the return to the naysaying! If indeed he does have all the attributes mentioned and has received all the accolades, why are are we so terrified of a Clinton victory? Clearly, in the most difficult state (for him) he effected a clear victory and appealed to all demographics. And this was no surprise!

Why are we reciting and almost celebrating all the Clintons' ability ("ruthless" campaign machine notwithstanding) to defeat him?

He is an outstanding all-rounder, in addition to having star quality, in every way, academic pedigree, and (although this is hilarious!) definitely "looks presidential!" Most of all, I believe he has the most integrity and definitely cares about people everywhere. He is our hope for tomorrow.

Carol McFarlane, Yakim, Washington, USA