BARACK Obama embarks on a tour of Europe, the Middle East and Afghanistan this weekend - a feverishly anticipated audition on the world stage that includes the unprecedented spectacle of aUS presidential candidate addressing a huge crowd in a foreign city. Yet for all the adoring throngs that are likely to greet the Democratic contender and the eight foreign leaders he will meet, the trip is aimed at voters back home, where Senator Obama's youth and inexperience have raised significant doubts that he has the gravitas, grit and sure-footedness to be their next commander-in-chief. The 20,000km whirlwind tour, extraordinary for its timing midway through a general election campaign and the international media frenzy it is attracting, will take Senator Obama to Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank, Germany, France and Britain as he seeks to bolster his national security credentials, one of his greatest electoral liabilities. Should any of his hosts be under the illusion that the trip is not primarily a White House campaign event, Senator Obama, 46, is taking no foreign journalists. He has filled his campaign plane with US reporters, including three television news anchors, who are in discussions to hold prime-time interviews with him on consecutive nights.
BARACK Obama embarks on a tour of Europe, the Middle East and Afghanistan this weekend - a feverishly anticipated audition on the world stage that includes the unprecedented spectacle of aUS presidential candidate addressing a huge crowd in a foreign city.
Yet for all the adoring throngs that are likely to greet the Democratic contender and the eight foreign leaders he will meet, the trip is aimed at voters back home, where Senator Obama's youth and inexperience have raised significant doubts that he has the gravitas, grit and sure-footedness to be their next commander-in-chief.
The 20,000km whirlwind tour, extraordinary for its timing midway through a general election campaign and the international media frenzy it is attracting, will take Senator Obama to Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel, the West Bank, Germany, France and Britain as he seeks to bolster his national security credentials, one of his greatest electoral liabilities.
Should any of his hosts be under the illusion that the trip is not primarily a White House campaign event, Senator Obama, 46, is taking no foreign journalists. He has filled his campaign plane with US reporters, including three television news anchors, who are in discussions to hold prime-time interviews with him on consecutive nights.
a feverishly anticipated audition on the world stage that includes the unprecedented spectacle of a US presidential candidate addressing a huge crowd in a foreign city.
So wrong in so many ways.
Fran:
where Senator Obama's youth and inexperience have raised significant doubts that he has the gravitas, grit and sure-footedness to be their next commander-in-chief.
Plenty of sure-footedness, grit, and gravitas on display in McCain's campaign.
He probably keeps them next to the golf accessories and the pink elephant.
