Exciting stuff - but will McCain divide and rule?

The current round of American primaries must be more exciting to the politics watcher everywhere than has been the case for many a year, and of course that is entirely down to the gripping series of contests between the two Democratic contenders - one who could be the first woman President and the other who could be the first black to hold the office. Groundbreaking stuff - and holding political pundits in thrall all over the world.

And of course its about more than just the cosmetics that appeal to the popular press. There are some considerable policy differences between the two Democratic candidates too. Obama has been more forceful in his support of 'green' climate policies and a little more wishy washy about anti terrorism moves than has Clinton. On health care Obama is more cautious, suggesting America start by insuring its children while Clinton wants universal cover from the off - a policy that failed to get off the ground while her husband was in office. Obama is 'softer' on illegal immigrants than is Clinton. On America's limping economy, Clinton says she would cut tax incentives to big companies and put the money into encouraging new jobs while Obama seems a little more vague, talking about more scientific research.





Anyway the race is hotting up. When the primaries began with that sweeping win for Obama in Iowa few thought Hillary would rally in the way that she did. But it was a temporary recovery for Obama seemed to have swept the Democratic primaries with an incredible run of victories which seemed to take him to within sight of the nomination.

But yesterday, although she still trails in the delegate count, Mrs Clinton stopped the rot. She won the key primaries in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island while Mr Obama won Vermont. She still trails in the delegate count but the psychological boost to her flagging candidacy has been immense. They move next onto Pennsylvania where the Clinton support has been traditionally strong.

Its wonderful gripping stuff as these two ground breakers continue to trade blows and swap victories and it looks as if the Democratic contest is going to the wire. Fantastic ..exciting..newsworthy stuff.

But wait. This is just about a nomination. The winner doesn't get the top job. That's all to be decided in November and while all the excitement is happening in the Democratic camp, one elderly rather maverick Republican is quietly making the GOP nomination his own. The 71 year old McCain has seen off all his challengers, Mitt Romney conceding after the last round of primaries and Mike Huckabee throwing in the towel yesterday.

McCain can now quietly sit back and start planning his November election strategy while Obama and Clinton are, metaphorically, cutting each others throats. Some American members of the public, interviewed on the BBC website, in discussing who they might vote for in November offered a warning to the Democratic camp. One said 'Well I know where McCain is positioned on issues. He's clear. I don't know about Obama and Clinton. They are too busy jockeying for position.'

And this has to be the Democratic nightmare. That all the excitement and rush of blood over the first black guy or the the first female President will crumble to dust in November when the stable and settled Republican candidate has had ample time to exploit the differences in the arguments of the Democratic rivals. And that all the historic possibilities will be blown away when McCain, a good orator and a very canny politician, manages to convince the US electorate that the Democrats are divided and inconsistent.




And that all the hype will be forgotten when the results in November show that, once again, the United States is in the hands of an elderly, conservative, white man for at least another four years.