Tracking Election Year 2008

Posted on January 29, 2008
Filed Under politics |

The February 5th caucuses in California are once again going to be an interesting duel between Clinton and Obama. This is the first time I have been following the election primaries so closely; and also the first time I have a candidate in mind whom I would like to win. I am betting my money on Hillary Clinton and my best wishes are with her. For that matter, I also like the ‘Change’ that Mr. Obama may bring in (based on what I have heard from him). Personally, I still prefer Clinton to Obama.

Having grown up in Southeast Asia, it is not unusual to imagine a woman president or prime minister. We have often seen a woman taking the lead role in politics in many Southeast Asian regions since the Independence from the so-called British Empire. However, the treatment meted out to women in many parts of Southeast Asia is not worth mentioning. And that’s the amusing fact. Common men do not treat the opposite sex very well. Infact, they subjugate and torture them in the name of dowry or for no other rhyme or reason. Surprisingly, when it comes to politics, electing a woman prime minister or president is not an issue. In contrast, in the past 300 years or more, we have seen only white male presidents in the US. For a country that boasts equality for all, be it male, female, white or black, people shy away from women candidates when it comes to electing a president.

Is there any particular reason for this parochial behavior? I have not found an answer to this even after discussing it with my American friends.

Looking at the USA Today Gallop Poll for California, Hillary Clinton has 47% support versus 35% for Barack Obama. The poll also indicates a 56% support for Clinton in her home state of New York versus 28% for Obama.

I rest my case by saying “Let the Best Candidate win!”

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