VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSO #0566 2950942
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 210942Z OCT 08
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8631
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 9771
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8891
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 3189
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000566
SIPDIS
STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD
DEPT PASS USTR
USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD XM XR BR
SUBJECT: U.S. ELECTIONS
John McCain, President
Liberal Folha de S. Paulo's columnist Joco Pereira Coutinho
commenting on the U.S elections says (10/21): ...John McCain will be
the next President of the United States. ..Any newspaper states the
obvious: McCain failed in two essential moments: the financial
crisis and the TV debates... Obama won the debates because
television is image and image is power. Obama is young, has
speaking skills and criticizes Bush; McCain is old, physically
limited and unfortunately linked to Bush. ...Polls should not be
trusted and should be read with skepticism...There is a hidden
racism that says something to the polls and another at the ballot...
If McCain, until November 4, shows that he is the most prepared and
experienced leader to develop the U.S. economy without an abusive
attack to the taxpayer's pocket; and if he is able to regain the
moderate center without alienating the legions of the Republican
right, the whole world that has already elected Obama to the White
House will be surprised and shocked."
White