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“THE Clintons wanted their pictures taken with him. His backers include George Soros, Michael Jordan and Christie Hefner. Flattering articles have appeared in places ranging from Washington, DC, to east Africa. Money pours into his campaign. Used copies of his autobiography sell for $50 apiece on the internet. Meet Barack Obama, who looks like being the first black male Democrat in America’s Senate.

The Economist first came across Mr Obama last winter in a basement where he was surrounded by law students drinking beer from plastic cups. Now throngs of Chicago’s finest queue up to hear him talk about foreign policy, and he is feted at pricey Democratic fund-raising meetings from coast to coast. As if to confirm that he is the next big thing in American politics he has just been asked to give a keynote speech at the Democratic convention.”