I wonder whether in responding to polls on Obama, the British realise just how tough anybody who has come from his political school is going to be. I suspect that if he becomes President he will be fair and reasonable, but other foreign leaders will have to make their case strongly in negotiations with him. Frankly, I doubt whether there are any UK politicans at the moment who will, leaving aside the weaknesses of the UK’s negotiating positions, be able to stand up to Obama in an argument. Brown seems to be too inflexible. Cameron goes to the other extreme (and is possibly just too nice), whilst Clegg has simply never had to meet the political challenges to give him the necessary experience. I wonder how many electors welcoming Obama realise the need to find UK negotiators who will do effective business with an Obama Presidency. Possibly, from the polls, more ordinary people do than politicians and others in the Westminster villlage. The only MPs who might possibly measure up are William Haigh and Vince Cable.

Most of these comments apply equally to McCain, who is also much tougher and more able than anybody currently on offer in the UK.

Blair and Brown have failed to cope with Bush, unlike Wilson whose skills with Johnson (another tough US President)look ever more praiseworthy in retrospect. George Bush Junior is underestimated as an international negotiator, but both McCain and Obama are manifestly more battle hardened than any recent US Presidential candidates of either party.