Bin Laden’s Death and Europe’s “Charm Offensive” Put Obama in Front at Start of Election Race

There are still 18 months to go before the next U.S. presidential election, but the political race for the White House has already begun among Democrats and Republicans. Analysts believe that this gives an advantage to current president, Barack Obama, who rides a wave of popularity following the death of terrorist Osama bin Laden and, this week, a charismatic European tour.

The perception of Obama’s ability to lead the United States as a major world power — which was criticized during his election and first term in office — is now an asset, according to North American political scientist David Fleischer.

“With the death of bin Laden, Obama’s approval rose and it took a lot of ammunition away from Republicans who criticized his lack of foreign policy results. This reduced the noise from the opposition,” said Fleischer, who teaches at the University of Brasilia.

“O’Bama”

Seizing the momentum, Obama went to Europe with a schedule that included media events tailored to enhance his charm. “Where did he stop first? Ireland. This is important, because there are many Americans of Irish descent,” said David Fleischer. “He even joked about his surname; Obama became O’Bama.”

On Monday (23), “O’Bama” visited the small town of Moneygall, where one of his ancestors had lived, and made sure to drink the typical dark beer. “This is important in electoral marketing. He needed that picture,” added Fleischer.

The next day, the president and first lady appeared at Buckingham Palace with Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton, the most talked-about couple in years. Also in the United Kingdom, Obama played table tennis, attended a gala dinner with the Queen of England and barbecued with British Prime Minister David Cameron.

For international analyst Reginaldo Nasser, these elements reinforced the focus on Obama as an “average American.”

“He was elected with a campaign for American political activism, which showed him to be an activist, engaged in the struggle for equal rights. Now he is trying to capture the typical Republican voter, the average American man, who makes barbecue and tells jokes,” says the professor, who is a specialist on the United States.

Opposition Adrift

Across the political spectrum, the Republican opposition still faces difficulty finding candidates strong enough to contest the upcoming primaries that will define Obama’s opponent in the next year.

The opposition’s biggest news so far was the brief “quasi-candidacy” of billionaire Donald Trump, who questioned Obama’s nationality but has already announced that he will not further his presidential ambitions.

Meanwhile, a recent survey by Fox News showed that 57 percent of Americans believe that Obama will be re-elected, nearly two times more than the 29 percent who held this perception in December.