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WITH Senator Barack Obama’s almost certain victory over Senator Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination, the issue of which candidate many Irish Americans will support in November becomes a major one.
For the activist Irish American community there was little doubt that Clinton represented a comfort zone unique in modern American presidential politics.
It is hardly surprising that large sums of money, close to $3 million, was raised for her in the community, representing the long time support and affection that the Clintons have enjoyed from Irish Americans.
Much of that was a result of their wholehearted involvement in the Irish peace process. Without President Bill Clinton’s support there is little doubt that the process would not have succeeded. The former first lady also played her role and was widely regarded as the best-briefed person on Capitol Hill on the topic.
Now it seems extremely likely that it will be Obama and Senator John McCain who will contest the race for the White House in November. While neither have a lock on Irish support, it is fair to say that both have a chance at securing it.
McCain is well known in the community, and attended three rallies for the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR). His work on behalf of immigration reform issue is deeply appreciated in a community that is desperately in need of some help with regards to same.
Shrewd congressional experts believe that a McCain presidency and a strong Democratic majority in the House and Senate may well be the best prescription for success in the tough arena of securing immigration legislation during the next Congress.
McCain has already demonstrated an ability to work across the isle on this issue, and will no doubt find reasons between now and November to assure Hispanic voters in particular, who will be key voting block, of his good intentions on immigration.
Obama is a far less known quantity on issues of concern to the Irish American community, but that is not to say that he cannot become a major supporter.
He starts off with some powerful advantages with the Kennedy family in his corner. Senator Ted Kennedy’s early move to side with Obama looks like a wise decision in retrospect and will certainly give him major clout with Obama if he is elected.
That will be good news on the immigration issue which Kennedy has shown great dedication to. The next president, whoever that is, will have major issues to deal with, but sooner or later the immigration nettle will have to be grasped.
The conduit for the Irish to Obama will undoubtedly be through Kennedy or someone like Tony Lake, a former National Security Advisor in the Clinton administration who is very familiar with the Northern Ireland issue. Lake is a key foreign policy operative for Obama now.
As for the candidate himself, he is still very much an unknown quantity, though anyone who has cut his teeth on Chicago politics would surely be aware of the importance of Irish issue to many Irish Americans.
The next few months will tell the tale as these two unlikely protagonists battle for the nomination across America. Suffice to say that the Irish American community will be watching with great interest how they come across on issues of importance to us. It will be an interesting few months.
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