U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama arrived in London Friday, the last scheduled stop on a world tour aimed at boosting his foreign policy credentials before elections later this year.
The Democratic Party senator touched down from Paris, where he held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, praising him for his more pro-American stance and France's military efforts in Afghanistan.
In the British capital, he will meet Prime Minister Gordon Brown, his predecessor Tony Blair -- now the international community's Middle East envoy -- and the leader of the main opposition Conservative Party, David Cameron.
Obama, his then-rival for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton, and the Republican Party candidate, John McCain, met Brown in Washington when he visited in April. Brown previously met McCain in London in March.
Unlike Obama's visit to Berlin, where he addressed a 200,000-strong crowd, the British leg of his tour will be mostly behind closed doors.
Protocol dictates that Brown will not appear with Obama on the steps of 10 Downing Street, as he did not do the same for McCain. Photographs will be taken inside the building before Obama addresses the media outside.
He will meet Cameron -- tipped to be Britain's next prime minister, as Brown's government falters in the opinion polls and at the ballot box, sparking calls for a leadership contest -- at his office in parliament.
Obama's popularity with European voters has also been seen in Britain, where a recent newspaper poll suggested Britons favor him to McCain for the presidency by five to one.
Friday's Daily Mirror headlined a front-page story on his Berlin speech "Obamamania!" He also made the front pages of six other national newspapers.
Likely topics for discussion include Iraq and Afghanistan, where British troops are fighting alongside their US counterparts, and the Middle East. Like Obama, Brown has recently visited Iraq, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Brown will doubtless be encouraged by Obama's call for a more multilateral approach to U.S. foreign policy, as he has pushed a similar line. He also wants troop reductions in Iraq and reinforcements from NATO countries in Afghanistan.
Earlier Friday, Obama signaled his appreciation for a warming of U.S.-French relations that were hit by former president Jacques Chirac's opposition to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
"He has been a great leader on this, and the American people greatly appreciate President Sarkozy's approach to the relationship," Obama said at a joint news conference at the Elysee Palace.
"I think the average American has enormous fondness for the French people," he added, despite perceptions among the U.S. electorate that an affinity for France harms a candidate's chances.
Obama also said he was grateful for the French troop presence in Afghanistan and Sarkozy's willingness to send more, describing his decision as "courageous". France recently committed 700 extra troops to the NATO force.
© Wire reports
19 Comments
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PrinceskaNo1
He should come to Tokyo, he has fans here too!
some14some
At present he is on world tour not home-tour. I am glad he is drawing large crowds like Bush, the only difference, Obama is greeted by 'supporters'.
skipthesong
Its a shame he's married. This guy would could be really getting it on.
adaydream
skipthesong - Who John?
Needs a doctor's note. < :-)
skipthesong
aday: No, a guy like Barrack would be swarmed upon by British ladies.
Its that type of place if you didn't know that already.
adaydream
Hey skipthesong, couldn't help it. But you got something there. If Barack could act or sing, who knows...
But then he wouldn't be running for office and we got enough singers.
Even if he don't do all the things I want done or sees things "MY" way, he's a damn sight better than the alternative. < :-)
Sarge
Princess - Tokyo? How about Obama - the town of Obama in Fukui Prefecture? He has fans there too!
PrinceskaNo1
Well, Sarge, the sad thing is Obama is not interested of visiting Japan at all. If he visits Obama in Fukui, I will be the first to take the train to meet him there.
skipthesong
he's a damn sight better than the alternative" Honestly speaking, that really isn't too much. And if you look at their stances, they really DON'T differ too much on main issues with the exception to the war. List it up, they meet on 90% of the issues. Let's face one thing, O is the media's boy. He is known around the world, has more popularity than most actors and singers. We accuse media often of misrepresenting the people quite a bit, I hope they are right this time because as far as I am concerned, the US is in shambles and I am doing good, financially - better than I have ever. But I will still stay the country is going down the tubes. I hope he can really "change" things.
Raja Kumar
Just bought obama's book audacity of hope,will read it 450 pages only. I am with EU and give full support to Obama.
smithinjapan
skip: kudos on some thoughtful posts. Now, I don't know if he can do 'better' per se, but I know he can't do worse! Of course, it's going to take a LONG, LONG while for the effects of Bush's regime to be cleaned up (hence the people of SF wanting to name a sewage treatment plant after him), and I have no doubt that, like oil drilling in the arctic, if the effects are not IMMEDIATELY felt people will blame the new guy, but still... Likewise, when Obama is president and starts to reverse some of Bush's travesties, the positive effects will take some time to be felt because of the damage done by the previous 'leadership'. It takes zero time to ruin things, as Bush gladly showed us, but it takes a LONG time to fix them -- especially reputation (at least Obama is WAY ahead in that category... he's already boosting the reputation of the US abroad).
prague
Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos on ABC World News Tonight were discussing the latest Obama flap when I watched it in Hong Kong this morning, July 26.
It appears that when Obama was in Germany, he wanted to visit wounded soldiers at the U.S. military hospital in Landsthul.
The Pentagon, apparently told him okay, but alone without cameras. They did not want the soldiers used as campaign props. I suppose that's fair enough.
Apparently, when Obama found out about the arrangements, he cancelled the visit.
That was a stupid decision, whoever made it. I am not sure if it was Obama or a campaign staff member.
I think it could really hurt him even more than the Reverend Wright controversey.
James La-Giglia Hong Kong
skipthesong
smith: please bear in mind, I have very little trust in any politician that makes politics a career, and that includes my own kind. I have been disappointed too many times, and many more times by my own kind, which is one reason why I am not going off on the Obama groupie wagon. I don't believe any politicians should garner that type of notoriety. I am more disappointed with Obama getting all the rock star attention he is getting because I don't agree politicians should have it that way and I am equally upset at McCain for wanting it to be the same for him. Think about the marketing behind candidates at this level, its the same marketing attempt such as an ipod, or the new iphone.
If the media just laid out the issues and the solutions each candidate would try, then I think people would vote on what is important to them instead of being marketed to. Kind of like bad actors or bands who we will claim we like, but in reality it was the marketing behind them that made "us" like them.
I just don't like it. Still, happy that someone, for his sake, is getting what they want at the same time.
Just my opinion and I don't expect anyone to agree.
James La-Giglia: I think it could really hurt him even more than the Reverend Wright controversey." You know the news that I get hasn't said a peep about Wright nor about Jessie's famous description of Obama. That goes back to my point above. You will vote what the media tells you to vote for.
Madverts
Obama's popularity is really grinding the gears of certain Americans. What is it with them?
Helter_Skelter
With Obama in Europe, polls show tighter White House race
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The US White House race tightened Saturday after new opinion polls suggested Barack Obama's shine was wearing off and Republican John McCain was gaining ground in several important states.
Obama, Embraced Abroad, Admits Trip May Hurt Him In US Polls
LONDON (AFP)--Democratic US presidential hopeful Barack Obama admitted Saturday that despite the adulation overseas, his foreign campaign swing could hurt him in the polls back home.
teaabe
can't wait for mccain to win, then it's la riot. LOL
buddha4brains
HelSkel, before you over exert yourself with excitement, this dip in the polls may be temporary as Americans turn out politics and tune in summer vacation. Besides, riding high in the polls all the time may be a worse situation as supporters may get complacent and not vote thinking everyone else will. Also the "Obama World Tour" may have been a calculated risk and was timed before the August convention as to minimize any negative effects of the trip.
There is too much real estate between now and November to get too excited about poll numbers. If this poll results continue into Sept., then perhaps we got a horse race - but not yet by a country mile.
undecidedbout08
Will Senator Obama go to Canada? I get the feeling Canadians are feeling left out...
Helter_Skelter
Buddha
I'm just reporting the news. You're the one scrambling to put a positive spin on it.