American Democrats Struggle for Russia

American Democrats Struggle for Russia

Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama are ready for tough policy for Moscow

In the American state of Ohio the decisive television debates of Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama, contenders for the right to represent the Democratic Party in the Presidential elections of the USA, were held. For Mrs. Clinton this was the last chance to overtake the front-runner Barrack Obama. A substantial part of the debates were given to relations with Moscow, giving sharp criticism to the policies of George Bush towards Russia and skeptically discussing Vladimir Putin’s successor. In the opinion of observers, the more skillful speaker proved to be Barrack Obama. With details – special Kommersant correspondent in Washington Dmitriy Sidorov.

The “moment of truth” in Ohio

The televised debates between the New York State Senator, former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and her opponent, African-American senator from Illinois, Barrack Obama, took place on evening Tuesday in Cleveland (Ohio), becoming the “moment of truth” for the democratic candidates to the post of President of the USA. Barrack Obama was able to secure the support of 1372 electors, while Hillary Clinton collected 1274 delegates towards the August Democratic Party Convention in Denver. In order to become sole democratic candidate at the forthcoming presidential elections in November, a democratic candidate must obtain 2025 delegates for the convention.

In the course of the outlined March 4 preliminary elections in Texas and Ohio more than 300 electoral votes stand to be gained. If Hillary Clinton wins these votes, she will be able to even out the situation; however, in the opinion of observers, defeat in just one of the states will put an end to her campaign.

In the days remaining until the show-down in Texas and Ohio the rivals will no longer encounter each other face to face. In this situation and the predetermined drama of the 20th century debates of the democratic candidates, Hillary Clinton must only win.

Un-pronounceable and pronounceable Medvedev

The most interesting segment for international audiences occurred after the third, and last, interruption in the debates, when the famous host of the NBC political program “Meet the Press” Tim Russert asked Hillary Clinton and Barrack Obama about what they think of the presidential elections in Russia and the “heir of Putin”. “I can say that he is the selected successor, one who is obviously placed Putin, whom Putin can check. This is a clever, but transparent way for Putin to remain in power, and this raises serious questions about how to maintain future relations with Russia “, – Hillary Clinton gave her estimation of the situation in Russia, answering first.

Noting that Mrs. Clinton avoids mentioning the last name of the future President of Russia, Tim Russert asked to name the successor of Vladimir Putin. “Med, Medv, Medvedev, or whatever it is”, – with difficulty pronounced the wife of the ex- President of the USA and member of the Senate Committee on Armed Forces.

Answering the question about Russia second, Barrack Obama preferred not to step on the same stones as Mrs. Clinton, and did not even attempt to pronounce Dmitriy Medvedev’s name. However, Mr. Obama’s answers clearly disappointed the supporters of the opinion that his election to President of the USA would be more preferable for Moscow.

Barrack Obama began by subjecting the Bush Administration to sharp criticism for, in his opinion, weakness in relations with Russia. “Bush said that he saw the soul in his eyes and understood that it is possible to deal with Putin. But he did not react when Putin suffocated opposition in Russia “, – explained Mr. Obama. This statement, both in the content and style resembled the sensational statement made about Russia by the republican candidate, Arizona Senator John McCain, who himself attempted ridicule the words of George Bush about the soul seen in the eyes of Vladimir Putin. In Barrack Obama’s opinion, President Bush ignored America’s relations with Russia when Putin was consolidating authority.

This did not end the “Russian theme” of democratic debates in Ohio. Tim Russert asked Senator Obama, what he, as the President, would do if “President Medvedev gives order for troops to protect Serbia”, referring to a hypothetical scenario of a potential development of conflict based on the declaration of independence of Kosovo. “We will act together with the international community,” – rigidly answered Barrack Obama. In this case he referred to the experience of Mrs. Clinton’s husband, former President Clinton, who created American- European alliance for regulating the conflict into Kosovo (in 1999 USA convinced NATO allies to begin joint military operations against Yugoslavia).

In explicit discord to the sharp statements on the Russian theme made by the chief candidates to the democratic nomination were the calming statements made on the same day by the Director of National Reconnaissance of the USA, Michael McConnell. “We look at the prospects of closer European integration of Russia with optimism and expect to see a somewhat different situation in the course of time,” – stated Michael McConnell in an interview with radio station WTOP. According to him, although USA “is not pleased with some things” that occur in Russia, the country has improved in recent years. In the broadcast the Director of National Reconnaissance of USA focused special attention on the first vice- premier of RF Dmitriy Medvedev – “a man, who is considered to be the following President”. “Look at his press conferences. Read what he is saying. It is very interesting when he speaks about the power of law, about the power of contracts, the rights of man, enterprise “, – said the head of the leading American special services to the audience. Speaking about the current present President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, Mr. McConnell called him “a very strong leader”, who was able to revive the country’s nationalist feelings.

It is remarkable, that against the background of a forceful new controversy burning across the ocean about what will be Washington’s new policy towards Russian after the change of power in the White House in January of next year, one of the first public assessments of the prospects of Russian- American relations came from Dmitriy Medvedev himself. “We have worked and work with this administration and will work with any administration that will be formed as a result of the elections”, – stated Dmitriy Medvedev. “Although, of course, it is easier to work with the people who hold contemporary positions, rather than with those whose eyes reflect past, and often support dual views”, – added the first vice-premier of RF. Although Mr. Medvedev did not name any of the American politicians, observers in Washington presumed this statement as an indirect confirmation that Moscow would prefer to see a “new face” in American politics in the presidential post in Washington. Specifically, Barrack Obama, who persistently positions himself to be this face, separating himself from “politicians of the past”-Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton.

However, Barrack Obama, speaking about relations with Moscow in Cleveland merely a few hours later than Dmitriy Medvedev, hardly had time to learn that, in the opinion of his potential Russian counterpart, for Kremlin it is precisely with him that will be “the easiest to work with”.

Hillary begins and loses

Summing up the results of the debates in Cleveland, observers in Washington concur that, in spite of the aggressive manner of conducting the discussion, the course of which touched upon a wide circle of questions – from Iraq and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to the healthcare program reformation in the USA, Hillary Clinton was unable to surpass Barrack Obama in the 90- minute verbal battle. The course of the debate left her with no alternatives other than to make fall-out remarks, including towards the host, Tim Russert. In Mrs. Clinton’s opinion, Tim Russert encouraged the African-American senator, making it necessary for her to answer first. “Would you like me to add an additional pillow to Obama’s chair so that he can be more comfortable “, – blurted out Mrs. Clinton during one of the critical moments in the discussion, to the dissatisfied rumble of hall.

An unofficial poll of 90 thousand viewers, carried out by television channel MSNBC on the result of the debate showed that 70% of audience named Senator Obama winner.

“Hillary’s staff had no choice other than to attempt an attack and try to make Obama loose his composure “, – said the “Kommersant” source close to the leadership of the Democratic Party, reminding that for Mrs. Clinton it is necessary to win in both Texas and Ohio. According to the source, relying on the so-called super-delegates of the Democratic Congress, which was assumed by Mrs. Clinton’s the staff in the early stages of race, in the present situation, is hardly possible. As it was made known to “Kommersant”, influential super-delegates former Vice President of the USA Al Gore and Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the Democratic Majority in the House of Representatives, already informed Bill and Hillary Clinton that the super-delegates will not be able to assist in the outcome of the race. Thus, for Hillary Clinton it is imperative to gain a majority of the electoral delegates.

The answer to the question of whether Barrack Obama will be able to convert Hillary Clinton’s yet another failure into his complete victory in the fight for the democratic nomination and over the long term to realize his new deal with respect to Moscow, will be obtained on March 4.