there is far from a direct causal relationship between what happens in american politics and what happens in the UK. But hey, it's fun to speculate. And certainly, British politicians will be preparing their own spin on the result of the Presidential election come November.
the unlikely event of an Obama victory would come closest to feeling like a global earthquake, a reshaping of everyone's political expectations. Who, between Brown and Cameron, would claim his mantle? Well, both, obviously. Brown would attempt to incorporate Obama's rejection of spin and low tactics into his own story about authenticity. Trouble is, that story has probably been irreparably tarnished by the events of last autumn. Also, the parallels between Gordon and Hillary are just too neat for the media to ignore: both have been around forever, close to power but never the number one. Both are highly intelligent and politically brilliant, but lack some things - humanity, wit, the ability to improvise - that their key political partners and predecessors had in abundance (for Tony read Bill).
Cameron, as Brown's youthful rival, has a better shot at gaining some reflected glory, and is already positioning himself as a kindred spirit. His challenge will be, as the Economist points out, persuading us that posh is the new black.
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