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Last update - 09:21 27/12/2007 Candidate wanted, no experience needed By Shmuel Rosner Tags: Barack Obama America differs from Israel in believing that its margin of security, which is derived from its strength and size, give even candidates from nowhere a chance. WASHINGTON - "Much of the criticism he's leveling at me is identical to the criticism that was leveled against him," Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said earlier this week. Today's critic, who believes that Obama does not have the experience necessary to be the leader of the United States, was yesterday's object of criticism. Then it was Bill Clinton, who was catapulted from the governor's office of the small, remote state of Arkansas straight into the White House. "My dog Millie knows more about foreign affairs than these two bozos," the incumbent president, George H.W. Bush, said about Clinton and his running mate Al Gore - who defeated him in the end. Yesterday's president is now the agent of his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton. In 1992, they were the new faces, but she is now campaigning on her experience, whereas Obama is offering the voters a change. The polls show that at least theoretically, experience carries a slight advantage in the eyes of the voters. The gap depends on how the question is worded: "Strength and experience" wins 49 percent, compared to 41 percent for "new direction and ideas," whereas the "right experience" garners 44 percent, compared to 41 percent for "fresh ideas." Advertisement Nevertheless, after months in which Clinton was the one to beat, Obama is leading, if only by a hair, in the first two states to hold primaries, Iowa and New Hampshire. Bill Clinton's position in 1992 can be likened to that of the leading Republican candidate, Mike Huckabee, who entered the race with the identical political experience: governor of Arkansas. Once, America tended to vote in presidents with experience, or perceived experience, men who had dedicated the better part of their lives to matters of war and peace. The Cold War era was good for establishment candidates (Eisenhower, Nixon, Bush Sr.) and those who succeeded in creating the impression of relevant experience (such as Kennedy and Reagan. Jimmy Carter was a notable exception). In the 1990s, two less experienced candidates were elected. Clinton and Bush Jr. did not even pretend: "It's the economy, stupid," was Clinton's campaign slogan in 1992, and in 2000, Bush promised voters a "humble" foreign policy, as befitted his own political proportions. Some observers figured that the 2008 elections would once again glorify the "experience," real or feigned, of candidates such as Clinton, John McCain and Rudolph Giuliani, as opposed to the refreshing newness of Obama and Huckabee. That is what the earliest polls showed, but this is increasingly not the case. America could once again gamble on a genuine turnaround. The polls show that the war in Iraq is still the most pressing issue. But the candidates who are building up the greatest momentum are not necessarily the ones who are perceived as those who will deal with it, and the war on terror, most effectively. According to a recent Harris Poll, Clinton has a sure lead among Democratic voters on Iraq and terror; among Republicans, Giuliani leads on terror, while McCain is the champion on Iraq. But the local dynamics in Iowa and New Hampshire have their own laws. At present, "experience" is taking a back seat to "fresh ideas" in the primaries. There are two lessons here. The first is how fed up Americans are with the current administration. The second is how little is left of the agitation caused by the September 11 attacks and the two wars that followed in their wake. To judge by its candidates, the U.S. is no longer in the grip of war fever - at least not until January 5. America differs from Israel in believing that its margin of security, which is derived from its strength and size, give even candidates from nowhere a chance. Bookmark to del.icio.us   A second visit? Peres invites Bush to visit Israel in May for Independence Day. After Iowa Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani's campaigns?   1.   Barack Obama is the new JFK 17:51  |  The ultimate Jew 26/12/07   2.   Giuliani laughing all the way to the bank 20:17  |  The Other Alan 26/12/07   3.   I Know who will win 00:24  |  Yechiel Hamelech 27/12/07   4.   Can a President solve the Underlying Causes of Terrorism? 05:15  |  Efox 27/12/07   5.   #4 efox - causes of terrorism 08:11  |  Israel_is_Done 27/12/07   6.   At least the U.S. is not a gerontocracy! 20:55  |  Mirqa 27/12/07   7.   re: Israel_is_Done 03:18  |  Efox 29/12/07   8.   The Beauty of Oceans 04:00  |  amazed american 30/12/07   9.   response to #3 07:06  |  John Williams 31/12/07   10.   Israel`s right to `disappear!` 21:16  |  TheAZCowBoy 05/01/08

Today Online Amos Harel: Israel is not the only one exercising restraint Responses: 220 Ramon: Crackdown on outposts likely to start after Bush visit Responses: 172 Wiesenthal Center calls on UN to focus on suicide bombings Responses: 344 Editorial: The IDF is an army that has ceased to function as an army Responses: 240 Qassam rocket strikes Sderot, damaging homes and cars Responses: 161 Rosner's Domain Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani? New poll: Obama, Huckabee, who's better for Israel? The Judaism of Alicia Silverstone (WTR) Rosner's Guest: How to raise Jewish children The green line is turning red More Headlines 21:46 IDF kills Hamas man in Gaza; Qassam damages Sderot homes 21:35 U.K. seeks new international conference on Mideast peace in London 22:07 Poll: 81 percent of Israelis back increasing IDF targeted killings 21:54 Vilnai: Israel should free Marwan Barghouti in swap for Shalit 19:55 Replica of Anne Frank annex opens inside Liverpool church 19:57 IDF withdraws from Nablus after 3-day operation in W. Bank city 19:50 Peres: Bush visit could mark passage from talk to action in peace process 15:22 PMO: Holocaust survivors will get stipends within two weeks 20:16 After Iowa: Is there room for both McCain and Giuliani? 19:05 Poll: Fatah losing support among West Bank, Gaza Palestinians Previous Editions Select Day 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec

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