Height of democracy

[Image source: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton]

It’s amazing how Barack Obama has emerged as a strong contender for the prized Democratic Party nomination for US presidential election late this year. He doesn’t lack reasons one may imagine strong enough to act against him.

The 2 that perhaps rank at the top are the near similarity his surname bears with Osama bin Laden, the tormentor of the US, and that his middle name is Hussein, once again a close similarity with that of the late Iraq president, Saddam Hussein, the other erstwhile US foe.

Surprisingly however none of those prevented Barack Obama from becoming a frontrunner for the Democratic candidacy. This clearly demonstrates the maturity of the people of US, determining painstakingly who should be the other contender for the White House than the Republican candidate John McCain.

The fight between Obama and Hillary Clinton is very earnest, so much so that the world’s media attention is firmly riveted on them. It’s all the more exciting because both the candidates are unique in their respective appeals.

If elected as the US president, Obama will be the first black, and Hillary, the first woman to head the nation.

What indeed inspires awe is the strength of democracy the contest reveals. The way the situation is poised as of now, there is no way one can get the better of the other without slogging it out in the middle of voters.

The other day I read an article that spoke of a foreign student, who having completed her exam, chose to volunteer for one of the 2 candidates instead of heading home. She distributed pamphlets and other election materials for one candidate without the need or expectation for any compensation.

I like this. Thank heavens they have such high voltage elections in a year when the recession is knocking on the door.

Meanwhile, as The Telegraph has noted, if the democrats take it longer to decide whom to select as their representative, it will only add to McCain’s advantage.

For, far away from the media glare, the Republican nominee is finding it easy to slowly inch ahead. The tortoise in the fable, it will be recalled, actually won the race.