Post by mickey on May 29, 2008 10:38:33 GMT -5
Aussie Rupert Murdoch the Fox Owner has predicted a Democratic landslide in the US presidential election against a gloomy economic backdrop over the next 18 months and described Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama as a "rock star".
Mr Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, which owns The Australian, has yet to endorse a US presidential candidate but considers Barack Obama very promising, he told two Wall Street Journal reporters yesterday.
News Corp recently acquired ownership of the Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones. "You have got the Obama phenomenon. You have got, undoubtedly, a recession ... The average American is really getting hurt financially and that all bodes well for him (Obama)," Mr Murdoch said.
"You have probably the making of a complete phenomenon in this country," he said in describing what he predicted would be a sweeping victory for Democrats in November.
Mr Murdoch said senators Obama and John McCain, the Republican Party nominee, both had a lot of problems, but Senator McCain would be hurt by his party and his close ties to Washington. While Senator McCain was a "decent guy", he was "unpredictable" and "didn't know much about the economy", he added.
Race would be an issue for Senator Obama, who would be the first black US president, but "it looks like he overcomes that, overcomes that totally".
Mr Murdoch is associated with conservative political views but has a reputation for a pragmatic streak in major national races where he has shown a willingness to switch sides when he detects major political changes afoot.
Mr Murdoch said he was not yet backing anyone in the 2008 presidential race, but then quickly added: "I want to meet Obama. I want to know if he's going to walk the walk."
Reuters
Mr Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, which owns The Australian, has yet to endorse a US presidential candidate but considers Barack Obama very promising, he told two Wall Street Journal reporters yesterday.
News Corp recently acquired ownership of the Journal and its parent company, Dow Jones. "You have got the Obama phenomenon. You have got, undoubtedly, a recession ... The average American is really getting hurt financially and that all bodes well for him (Obama)," Mr Murdoch said.
"You have probably the making of a complete phenomenon in this country," he said in describing what he predicted would be a sweeping victory for Democrats in November.
Mr Murdoch said senators Obama and John McCain, the Republican Party nominee, both had a lot of problems, but Senator McCain would be hurt by his party and his close ties to Washington. While Senator McCain was a "decent guy", he was "unpredictable" and "didn't know much about the economy", he added.
Race would be an issue for Senator Obama, who would be the first black US president, but "it looks like he overcomes that, overcomes that totally".
Mr Murdoch is associated with conservative political views but has a reputation for a pragmatic streak in major national races where he has shown a willingness to switch sides when he detects major political changes afoot.
Mr Murdoch said he was not yet backing anyone in the 2008 presidential race, but then quickly added: "I want to meet Obama. I want to know if he's going to walk the walk."
Reuters