Obama, Path to the White House

Although McCain attempted to adopt a more offensive attitude and at times succeeded in applying strong pressure on Obama, the content of the discussion on Wednesday night probably will not change the political leaning [of the American public] over the past few weeks. Nor will it encourage such change because, regardless of the topics discussed, these themes are not a priority to the average American voter.

The question about the negative and almost ‘dirty’ character that the political campaign has adopted was interesting because it revealed a McCain injured by grievance and the need to make a public apology. Obama, on the other hand, took the high road by saying that the insults do not bother him—even though he has been the victim of more serious and frequent accusations than has his opponent—and that he prefers to discuss more pertinent issues. It was a time to show leadership, the capacity for reconciliation, and the ability to avoid complaining or demonstrating vulnerability. It was here that Obama won.

McCain was a bit more successful than in past opportunities at separating his candidacy from the Bush administration. The message to Obama, for the first time, was forceful: “I am not President Bush, if you wanted to run against President Bush you should have run four years ago,” he responded to the Democratic candidate. He added that the past four years could not make anyone ‘happy.’ In light of Bush’s lack of popularity and the economic crisis—the two intimately connected—both candidates ended up disagreeing.

Another topic that gave way to an interesting discussion, but that, again, won’t do much to change the opinion of voters, was the dialogue on abortion. As is known, the U.S. Supreme Court failed in 1972 in the case of Roe vs. Wade, declaring that state laws against abortion violate the right to privacy granted by the Constitution. In doing so, the Court overruled all state and federal laws that prohibit or restrict abortion. The Roe vs. Wade debate confronts activists both in favor of and against abortion, and also centralists and federalists, as well as supporters and opponents of the Supreme Court. Democrats and Republicans have debated the topic for decades and, for better or worse, have learned to live with their differences. Obama agrees with and supports the decision of the Court; McCain does not. Both have strong legal and moral reasons for defending their point of view. The nature of the debate does not cease to be enviable in the American political environment.

The other part of the discussion, in which the Colombian topic was discussed for the first time, was free market policy. There were no surprises here. McCain was in favor and Obama asserted the criticism that has already manifested regarding the situation of the working class of the country. It is worth noting that Obama’s proposal to ‘revise’ free market treaties has more than one country worried. During the debate he mentioned, for example, that he would revise the current treaty with South Korea, one of the U.S.’s strongest allies in Asia. His goal has been to win and maintain the vote of the working class and syndicates, promising a more protectionist attitude than McCain. However, his government will have to be different and how Obama will make the transition, in this camp, from candidate to executor remains to be seen.

In the middle of the current crisis, a speech in favor of free market policies and a Republican program aimed at economic recovery does not garner public creditability. The worse the economic and financial situation becomes, the less the chance that the Republicans will remain in the White House. It’s as simple as that.