When the focus shifts from the contest within the parties to the general election, the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates always drift towards the centre. In winning the nomination, the Democratic candidates need to bear to the left and the Republicans to the right in order to consolidate their core constituencies, but once they win the nomination, the direction changes. It was no surprise, then, that the Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama and the Republican candidate, Senator John McCain have been busy reinventing themselves to win the prized swing voters in the middle.

What is surprising, however, has been the scope and pace of Obama’s dash to the centre-ground. On a whole range of issues, Obama has defied the very liberal sentiment in his party that allowed him to defeat the powerful machine of the Clintons.

On the Iraq war, which is so vehemently opposed by the liberals, Obama has repositioned himself. After promising, during the primaries, a rapid withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, he now says he will decide the schedule only after reviewing the situation and consulting with the US military leadership.

In an effort to win over the influential Jewish-American vote, Obama has already promised unconditional and absolute support to the Israeli positions vis-a-vis the Palestinians. No more ambiguity about where he stands in the Middle East.

Obama has also extended strong support to President George Bush’s ‘faith-based initiatives’ (much reviled by secular liberals) that encourage religious groups to promote social welfare with government funds. On gun control, demanded vociferously by the liberals and opposed with equal ferocity by the conservatives, Obama has moved to the right. He supported a recent Supreme Court decision overturning the ban on hand guns imposed by the local government in Washington DC. Not surprisingly American progressives are stunned by Obama’s about-face on important issues. Obama, however, appears secure in the knowledge that the liberals have nowhere else to go in this election. Obama also knows that it more dangerous to be called a ‘liberal’ rather than a ‘flip-flopper’. In quickly pre-empting the potential lines of attack by the Republicans and making himself attractive to the American mainstream, Obama is turning out to be a sophisticated politician.

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