Yet while we wait for those, we have seen national political leader after leader throw (or at least attempt to) themselves into the arena as ‘New Obamas’ to capitalise on his popularity in what I am calling the ‘Obama Effect’.
And who can blame them? Obama, an African-American whose compatriots just forty years ago would have been victimised in the racist and segregated state of America, has just won election to the office of one of the most powerful positions (if not THE most powerful) in world politics.
He has done so after nearly two whole years of competitive and at times brutal campaigning in the process of which he has been accused of “palling around with terrorists” by Sarah Palin, faced speculation that his middle name (Hussein) linked him to radical Islam and even been subject to a foiled assassination plot.
In the process he massively increased voter turnout, with numerous states reporting very high turnout and one outlet to predicted that more than 130 million Americans would vote – a number far higher than in any election since 1960. He mobilised a civilian force in the thousands and what is more important, he inspired the feeling of hope and of the ability to change into the hearts and minds of the country.
It is therefore no surprise at all that political leaders from all around the world are rushing to associate themselves with President-Elect Obama.
Gordon Brown, although having made small gains in public affection from his handling of the current financial crisis, will be extremely keen to be seen with Obama and have some "face time" together ahead of the international financial summit in Washington on 15 November. No doubt arrangements have already been made to encourage the press to reproduce staged photos of Brown and Obama together sharing a political handshake across their front-pages the next day.
Association with a figure of such soaring public opinion is clearly politically infectious. Once the bug has spread, what’s to stop it becoming a pandemic and soon Obama’s phone will be ringing off the hook for publicity shots? As if he didn’t have other things to worry about…
But it’s not just political leaders, the rest of the world is embracing him and calling him their own, even the computer gaming world, who have started to release Obama-related games.
One such game, entitled Super Obama World (modelled on the best-selling Nintendo's Super Mario World franchise) has Obama running round a virtual world collecting flags and dodging lipstick-wearing pit bulls, lobbyists and… Sarah Palin. Click here to have a play yourself* Genius. Absolute genius.
And then of course, there’s the Irish. During his campaign Obama eluded to having an Irish heritage from his father’s side. In light of his election, an Irish band have recorded a song entitled “There’s no one as Irish as Barack O’Bama” which is proving popular on the web and you can watch it yourself below. (Warning: the chorus is catchy…)
I did warn you!
