Obama Starts his Election Campaign

President Barack Obama is nearing the end of his first term as US President. His presidency though not great has been better than most. He has tried to roll back the US committment in fighting wars and has exited Iraq and is on the way out from Afghanistan. There has been no laxity in the war on terror and the drone attacks  have increased and the most wanted terrorist Osam bin Laden was shot dead inside Pakistan.

He has also so far not joined the drum beaters for an attack on Iran and has recognized that Pakistan is the epicenter of terror. He has also reined in Israel, no mean achievement.  The economy however has just scraped along. China is the bugbear and inflation and deficit are ruling.  Perhaps the sins of the past presidents after FDR are coming home to roost and Obama has to grin and bear it.

Two days back Obama launched his campaign with a stirring speech  at  Richmond with the first lady Michelle by his side.  Obama tried to rekindle the enthusiasm surrounding his 2008 candidacy sending stark warnings that if Romney was elected  there would be no going "forward". He followed up from Richmond to  Columbus, Ohio. These were the states where he had beaten McCain.

Obama is a great speaker who can knit with his audience and this is what he did. Placards all around carried the word "Forward" a sure sign that Obama is  showing a dream to the middle class. Frankly he has not done badly and I feel Romney with his tycoon image is a poor opponent, but the election is still a few months away and anything can happen between now and then.

The US presidential election is the most important in the world and Obama seemed to be aware of it as he tried to rekindle the flame that swept him into the White House in 2008. His performance was good and one expects that in case he can sustain his campaign, he might well get another chance to enter the Oval office.