<i>Will Hillary make it to the White House?</i>
American Presidential race-2008 is surging ahead rather early for a variety of reasons. The Bush era is struggling with little hope of late hour turning around. VP Dick Cheney is not running, never mind the health grounds; the race is without incumbency since 1928. The dismal approval rate of President Bush has not encouraged many Republicans including Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida, to run. Mayor Rudy Giuliani is an exception, still walking above the Bush approval rating due to his brave leadership following 9/11. Dubbed as the Mayor of America, an able crisis leader of Italian origin, he was never tested outside cosmopolitan New York. Rudy walked off the senatorial race in 2000 against Hillary Clinton in the greater state of New York on health ground. In one-on-one presidential race, snap polls suggest he is convincingly behind. The democrats appear poised to reclaim the Whitehouse after eight long years. The Whitehouse is hardly for a party, it is for the person of the president and the magic of 270 in the Electoral College is still a distant mirage. The Democrats have already ten candidates and Republicans eight in the fray but new entry up to the year end is possible. Not all of them are serious. Which party wins the presidency is directly related to who looks more presidential in the race. Senator Hillary Clinton no doubt is way ahead of other Democrat hopefuls, especially Senator Barack Obama of Illinois. Of Kenyan descent, the brilliant Obama's meteoric rise could not, however, cross the line of doubt and the distance with Hillary is widening. It reminds us of the brilliant Jessie Jackson's failed effort to be a presidential candidate. Visiting that great society for quarter of a century and looking for clues, I am not convinced that America is ready for Obama. Some still feel Al Gore may announce his candidature after Hillary and Obama get burnt out through mud slinging, for, if some other Democrat reaches the White House this time Al Gore may not get another chance in his lifetime. Instead of sweeping conclusions about Senator Obama or Hillary on sex and colour one has to agree that vibrant America is boldly addressing the fault lines and increasingly expanding on the hitherto forbidden zones. Hillary is an elegant Lady, a brilliant lawyer and a tough fighter. A buddy in politics with Bill, especially on abortion, healthcare, education and the poor, she has been on many occasions independent of the shadow of her husband. One can say she is a byproduct of Clinton presidency. America values inheritance, but the venture loving society is always exploring the horizon for something new and original. Can Hillary fend off a masculine prejudice and give a new direction to war torn America? Even with high approval rating the question will hang like Damocles' sword over Hillary till last, if America is ready to vote a woman to the Whitehouse. Happily, the masculine culture is vanishing. On the heels Madeline Albright and Condoleezza Rice as powerful Secretaries of State, Nancy Pelosi is the first Speaker of the House of Representatives. Golda Mayer, Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, many women leaders have proved to be tough in the world arena, and Angela Markel of Germany is the latest sensation among the woman leaders. Her opponents would still like to express doubt on Hilary as the future commander-in-chief. With increasing women's participation in Iraq and other combat zones, risk is high in making sex an issue in the presidential race. Certainly, nobody can blame Hillary for not being man enough. The American presidential race is a grueling marathon contest. A slip anywhere and media can hype the damage beyond recovery. Only the very brave and able try, while most burn out, only one reach the pinnacle of power. American media is merciless towards the politicians - the holders and hopefuls of the public offices. We have seen how President Nixon was destroyed by Watergate. Due to the very brave defense by Hillary at tremendous personal agony, Clinton survived on the razor's edge. The First Lady has converted the Lewinsky affair from personal tragedy by her consummate ability to bear the pain and assume the responsibility of defending the political life of her husband under emotional stress. Any man would cherish a wife like her, but will the men, wicked that they are, compliment her decisiveness and goddess like manner while voting? A decade later, Lewinsky affair may still draw frowns from women voters to register their disapproval for her forgiveness. In any case, when President Clinton will surely be working for her with his tentacles in every state, America should know that she has a deeper sense of judgment to convert a personal pain into a historical opportunity. She did not merely save the Clinton presidency from the Lewinsky scandal, she made one more president possible. Hillary's autobiography- Living History - amply demonstrated she was the stronger of the Clintons and her ambition for higher office never in doubt. Later, Bill Clinton's 'My Life' facilitated her acumen in more subtle ways. She is a formidable forerunner today in the race for 2008 in her own right. Her propensity to edge ahead of others on issues and concerns is understandable but, being the forerunner, she is drawing fire from all directions - the nine other democratic hopefuls and the whole lot of Republicans. As President Clinton, the magician of politics, remains her moderator and underwriter, any undesirable slip may avoid a thud on her political self. But the great names have great many things to hide in politics and the media pathologically loves scandals. The best bet is not to conclude sixteen months ahead. War and the sensitive Immigration Bill are going to be the cut and dry areas of next election. Healthcare for all is only a lukewarm agenda for the poor; even the pro-choice and anti-abortion issue get precedence over healthcare. Budget overrun, tax cut and supply side economics are matters for the gurus. In spite of bumps and controversies, Reaganomics adopted by President Bush fared well. With the exception of 'Clinton Bush' election, which went by the slogan 'It's the economy stupid', war and foreign policy is the fate of the American presidential race. Rich America hates poverty; the poor get the scorn, at the most lip service. One also has to agree that anybody can be rich and nobody has a right to be poor in the land of opportunity. Anti-war sentiment is taking a full circle for race-2008. The American Muslims could not prove to be a wise vote bank. The unconditional support to Israel and recent commitment to bombard specific targets within Pakistan by major candidates is political exigency. Weighing between the overriding Jewish influence and weak Muslims, politicians have very little choice while campaigning. It does not matter what Democrats or Republicans say while locking horns, the next president should offer a better deal to the restive Muslims. They do not hate America; but many still quiver with fear and suspicion. More than a roadmap, America needs a bridge with the billion plus Muslims of the world. The author is a free lancer.
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