The political class here in America, otherwise painfully divided, is unanimous on one thing: Dave cut an inoffensive figure when he came to visit the so-called leader of the free world this week. Indeed, such offence as was caused seemed to be directed back at Dave's fellow countrymen, after his obtuse remark about Britain's having been America's "junior partner" in 1940. This idiotic mistake shows that Dave remains a supreme PR man with the PR man's traditional flexibility with the facts, and we must doubt he cares too much about having got them wrong. But being a PR man seems to be a valuable talent on adventures such as this, in a country where almost everything is judged by the artificial criterion of popular appeal.
Dave made that statement in an attempt – apparently successful – to suck up to Barack Obama, something he may feel he has to do less after the mid-term congressional elections on November 2. Even here in hardline Democrat New York – where, two years ago, I had a job finding anyone who would admit not to having voted for Mr Obama – the administration and its supporters in Congress are held in increasing contempt. Dave has had little time or inclination to talk to any conservatives here – much the same as his attitude to them at home – but on future visits he may have to cast his net more widely. After November 2 Mr Obama's ability to do what he wants may be circumscribed by the realities of an electoral system in which he has become deeply unpopular.
