PARIS — The French are still trying to understand how Barack Obama popped out of nowhere to run for the world's most powerful office. Now, they are struggling to comprehend last week's Republican convention that produced the political bombshell from Alaska. French, like many North Americans, were stunned and confused by Sen. John McCain's surprise... Read More

The Republican blitz unleashed against Democratic frontrunner Barack Obama last week showed just how bitter, dirty and ugly the 2008 presidential campaign is likely to be. After Obama said he favored direct negotiations with Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba, and dismissed any potential danger from Iran as "tiny," Republican candidate John McCain accused him of being... Read More

PARIS — The more things change, as the French are fond of saying, the more they remain the same. But things have really changed here in France, at least since the long ago days of my youth in the later 1950's and early 1960's, and they are no longer the same. In those bygone days,... Read More

Barack Obama says he's happy to see his primary race with Hillary Clinton continue right up to the bitter end. But there is deepening worry in this overwhelmingly Democratic Party city that the fratricidal battle between Obama and Clinton is tearing apart the party and boosting Republican hopes of victory in November. Obama leads by... Read More

PANAMA — Watching America's quirky electoral process from abroad always has special piquancy. In many countries, including little Panama, whoever becomes president of the United States often has more influence over these nations than their own leaders. I used to get lots of mail from American conservatives fretting the wicked Red Chinese had taken over... Read More