The race for the White house has formally begun. Now the real hard work begins for Barack Obama, the Democratic nomination set to run against the Republican candidate, prison-of-war veteran, John McCain.

June 8th was the day Hilary Clinton officially declared her bid for the White House finished, although some Democratic figures have suggested she should have been quicker to accept defeat and unite the Democratic followers on Obama's bid. The significance of this task for Obama cannot be understated and disaffected voters need to feel the Obama factor, as many as 40% of Democrats who voted for Hilary would vote Republican at the Presidential contest. A percentage of whom, after some reflection, should fall but that is a disturbingly high number of easy votes for McCain if Obama fails to appease.

With record turn-out for primaries and caucuses optimism has clearly swelled with more and more Americans ready to make history and vote somebody in to the White House who isn't a white male.

One reason for Clinton's defeat in the polls comes in the form of former President and hubby Bill who temporarily lost his senses during several speeches in which he labelled Obama's bid as a 'fairytale', a divisive comment that patronised and angered African-American voters and needlessly brought race into the equation earlier than expected, but expected none-the-less.

Until the successor to George 'collateral damage' Bush jnr is decided Obama will have to deal with the gravest insults on his personal and physical attributes that is prevalent in American politics where point scoring seems more important than policies in the run up to election day, but if Barack Obama endures and wins the next election his theme of 'Change' could break down some of the more traditionalist attitudes in other Countries as well as America.

According to official figures, Hilary won considerately more votes from women, Latinos and working class voters than Obama who appealed to young voters, enticed apathetic members of community to the polls, the middle and upper class as well as a lion's share of the super delegates who's influence in this election wasn't necessary for victory but will bring much influence over the next 5 months.

This Democratic semi-final has already seen mud throwing and character assassinations usually saved up for the 'big' vote but with new paths of hope being laid with a female and a mixed race candidate in a strongly traditional country, then surely the rest of the world can follow suit.


Written by Josh MacNab