Obama Plans European Tour, Guardian Predicts Euro Groupies

[LAAlex]

For everyone stymied by Barack Obama's ability to pull those stadium crowds...I just read in The Guardian] that he is planning his first overseas trip since running for president. The paper is guessing that he'll be a huge draw. If that turns out to be the case, I would guess his rock star appeal would come from the same source as it does on home turf--it's all about Bush.

[LiquidPaddy]

Not interested, his tricks put Hillary out of the running for 2008 and I don't see him winning in November.

More fundamentally, has nobody told him that we can't vote for him?

[cyberianpan]

Interesting... McCain wants him to go to Iraq ... full of homicidal maniacs, militaryism and violence.

Obama wants to go to Europe... place that is supposed to be most like the US (civilised, liberal, open, Western).

cYp

[fergalr]

Be still my beating heart

[LAAlex]

Oops--let me clarify this just a little. I'm in the U.S. I've been reading this board for awhile, interested in why everyone was so into in this election (actually, I started peeking in last year before I made a trip over..and after I found you had to pay for access to the Irish Times?) One of the one things I've noticed is that people outside of the U.S. sometimes seem a little perplexed over the (over?)emotional reaction of Obama supporters. I'm just interested in how he's going to play on the outside.

[Squire Allworthy]

[size=7][color=#FF4000]Obama live at Wembley. [/color]
[/size]
The supporting act had better be good.

[fergalr]

One of the one things I've noticed is that people outside of the U.S. sometimes seem a little perplexed over the (over?)emotional reaction of Obama supporters. I'm just interested in how he's going to play on the outside.

The Economist has a poll this week with 80% of Europeans approving of the Obama candidacy, so he may go down close to as well as he is in the States. Poor McCain languishes at 30%, but then again - Europeans don't have votes

[ManOfReason]

Bad idea. Last thing any U.S. Presidential candidate needs is to be pictured being fawned over by the French or Germans.

Early in John Kerry's campaign he was videotaped talking in fluent French on a bus with some French journalists. From that point on he would only speak in English with any journalist. (for all the good it did him.)

Only Obam's existing supporters will impressed with this stunt but it won't convert any voters. Little upside, potentially big downside if there is any kind of Anti-American/Anti-Obama jabs flung in his direction by the Eurpoean media (like this http://www.spiegel.de/international/...557861,00.html)

[CelticAtheist]

Obama....McCain.....
Either way, the US is screwed.

[Squire Allworthy]

I was pondering this one; why would anyone on Europe want to see Obama? There is plenty of other entertainment unless he is picking decidedly tedious places where there is little competition, like, Cardiff or Friday night in Goole.

Bush was up North today. Now there is a man with the potential to fill any stadium. If you were allowed to bring your own tomatoes and eggs you would queue a week to get the opportunity.

I dare say there will be enough fools who go and watch Obama, but it could easily bomb. Need good promotion and careful selection of locations or this could backfire.