Endorsement for the Next President of the United States of America


For the last few months I have been caught between a (Ba)rack and a
hard North Carolina place, and have been very undecided of who I
should endorse to be the Democrat candidate to fight the next election
and become the next President of the United States of America.

If one watched the CNN/YouTube debate this week, you would have been
even more undecided, Senator Hillary Clinton really performed well,
very articulate, clear and confident, she really impressed me.

Senator Joe Biden from Delaware was equally impressive, this very
experienced Democrat has very good ideas and was incredibly adroit.

To be honest all the Democrats, bar Mike Gravel performed well, and I
believe that the Republican party will battle to keep the White House
in 2008.

I was very confused, but have decided that my straddling must end, and
I have made a decision.

The Audacity of Hope, is one of the best books I have ever read by a
politician, Barack Obama's story is inspiring, his ability to connect
with new voters is phenomenal. When delivering a speech there is
probably no better at the moment. I dont think it is just hyperbole
when people refer to him as a "phenomenon". He might be a junior
senator, but that is relative, Hilary Clinton is not that much more
experienced than he has. I think the idea of an African American
president is very exciting, (just as the idea of a woman finally
becoming president, but with all due respect to John McCain and Mitt
Romney, I am less excited about the prospect of the first war veteran
president or the first Mormon president).

Barack Obama's face on the ballot sheet will be a massive test for the
USA and the country would have to decide whether they are ready for
him to lead the country, I believe Obama will be a great President,
but not now. The former Senator of North Carolina and failed Vice
Presidential candidate John Edwards is not a perfect candidate. He has
his flaws, he is easy for the GOP to attack. The haircut, the
litigator, the populist.

He is also a longshot at the moment, he is a distant 3rd. However, I
watched the debate this week, and whilst most did exceptionally well,
John Edwards did better than them. He won. On adressing the war,
health care, poverty he came out angry but to the point. He is someone
who has devoted his last few years to alleviating poverty. For John
Edwards knows that it is not right that the richest country in the
world can not protect its citizens from poverty, he knows that it is
not right that many CEO's pay less tax than their secretaries. It is
not right that the richest country in the world offers no universal
health care for all it's citizens.

I also believe that an America lead by John Edwards will be an America
much more respected in the world. He has been incredibly vocal on his
call for the removal of 40,000-50,000 troops immediately from Iraq and
the full withdrawal in a year. Edwards will ensure that America plays
a much constructive role in Africa, and ensure that America does not
use religious ideals to determine their policy on how to curb HIV/AIDS
but use the policies which will best suit those most affected and
vulnerable.

I also look to Elizabeth Edwards as someone who would make a great
first lady, her story is inspiring, her battle with breast cancer, and
her work in the fight against poverty. She will be an activist first
lady who will lead from the front with her husband.

America can do better and will do better under John Edwards

http://www.flickr.com/photos/forallofus/910820386/ Taken from www.johnedwards.com