– President endorses US Democratic candidate

President Bharrat Jagdeo said that if he had the opportunity he would campaign for the US Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Barack Obama, stating that the senator embodies a collective of admirable ideals.

He said that an Obama presidency signifies a thrust forward from a sordid past in US history; in reference to the Jim Crow laws of racial segregation in some parts the country.

He noted that an Obama presidency would be of great symbolic value, but pointed out that the US senator’s message is universal and has never pandered to a partisan interest.
“I am pleased to know that the son of an African immigrant can be the next President of the United States but outside of that Obama represents so much more. This is a man with a first-rate education who favoured community work over Wall Street,” the President said.

Jagdeo was at the time responding to a question from the local media about the upcoming US elections and his view of the US democratic senator during a press briefing at State House yesterday. He told reporters that he is rooting for an Obama win, adding that he has urged the local disapora to vote for the democratic senator come November 4. He also expressed hope that the entire Caribbean disapora would support Obama.

Bharrat Jagdeo

Jagdeo said that Obama has a certain amount of empathy that is rare among US politicians, adding that Obama is likely to understand better the issues facing small, developing countries like Guyana. He pointed to Obama’s humble upbringing and his work with everyday, ordinary people.

The President added that Obama’s exposure to Islam should also be recognized as important factor given the continued vilification of Islam that is often expressed in some quarters.

Obama is bidding to become the first African-American president in the US after defeating Senator Hillary Clinton for the democratic nomination. He is running against Republican senator John McCain for the presidency.