Reply #11: Obama inspiring European politicians [View All]

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Obama inspiring European politicians

By Tracy Wilkinson
Los Angeles Times / February 26, 2008
ROME - Europe can't get enough of Barack Obama - just look at a couple of the continent's own elections.

more stories like thisWalter Veltroni, until last week the mayor of Rome, is casting himself as the Italian Obama as he runs for prime minister of Italy.

"Yes, we can!" he says in his campaign, to the bewilderment of the majority of Italians who don't speak English.

...These European politicians have very little to do with Obama; for one thing, they've been in office for many years. They do, however, represent the left wings of their nation's political spectrum and are relatively young, in the local context.

The emulation is testament to how Obama has captured the imagination on this side of the Atlantic as he has at home....