Embassy News & Events

07 February 2008
'Super Tuesday' Event Makes Super Night

  Listen to the audio:
 • Introduction by Deputy Chief of Mission Richard LeBaron (3:40 minutes)
 • Panel introduction & discussion (32 minutes)
 • Question & Answer session (40 minutes)

 Watch the video:   [Windows media]

It's the question many people on both sides of the Atlantic are asking: "Super Tuesday: What Happens Next?" That was also the subject of a lively discussion that the Embassy hosted on February 7.

A panel of political experts analyzed the results and implications of the February 5 Super Tuesday Democratic and Republican primary elections in the United States.

A standing-room-only audience of about 175 UK and international journalists, academics, students and political analysts heard a presentation via satellite from noted political commentator Professor Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.

While the withdrawal of Mitt Romney from the Republican race just an hour before the Embassy event appeared to crown Senator John McCain as the eventual Republican nominee for president, Professor Sabato reinforced the view that the race for the Democratic nomination between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was historically close and still wide open.

Sabato said that not settling early on its nominee could be a weakness for the Democratic Party that otherwise was well positioned for success in November.

His analysis of the demographic composition of Clinton’s and Obama’s supporters and the make-up of the states yet to hold primaries set up a continued close contest that could be decided by the so-called "Super Delegates" (party Members of Congress and other leading officials) at the August 25-28 Democratic Convention in Denver.

Sabato's presentation was followed by a panel discussion at the Embassy chaired by Professor Philip Davies, Director of the Eccles Center for American Studies at the British Library.

Panelists who shared their opinions and predictions were: Jim Sciutto, Senior Foreign Correspondent, ABC News; Rob Singh, Professor of Politics, Birkbeck College, University of London; Mina Al-Oraibi, Asharq Alawsat newspaper; Tony Badger, Paul Mellon Professor of American History, Cambridge University; and Jonathan Freedland, Columnist, The Guardian.

Introductory comments gave way to an engaging discussion with the invited audience that highlighted the tremendous interest in the UK and internationally in the 2008 U.S. campaign and its eventual result.

A panel of academics and journalists from the UK, U.S. and Middle East discuss the Super Tuesday primaries (L-R: Prof. Rob Sing, University of London; Jonathan Freedland, Guardian newspaper; Jim Sciutto, ABC News; Philip Davies (Chair); Mina Al-Oraibi, Asharq Alawsat newspaper; Tony Badger, Cambridge University) [photo: Sarah Jane Mayhew]

An audience of over 175 wrapped up in the excitement of the U.S. campaign at the Super Tuesday event (photo: Sarah Jane Mayhew)

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