However, this will not change Washington’s policy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, independent analysts say.
Political and economic analysts say voters are angered over the sorry state of the economy and rising unemployment and are ready to punish the ruling Democratic Party for not delivering on the promise of “change” – Obama’s political slogan during his electioneering in 2008.
“The advertising campaign reflects the mood of voters, and the American voters are angry over the poor state of the economy and unemployment,” said Billy Vasilliadis, chief executive officer of a marketing and advertising company.
“Most of the polls show that the voters are angry and they want to blame somebody,” said Vasilliadis, who is running the re-election campaign of Harry Reid, the majority party leader in the US Senate. He said anger has also translated into negative campaigns and 80 per cent of advertising is about negative things. The Americans have spent $4 billion on political campaigns, he added.
The “war on terror” that affects Afghanistan and Pakistan most is missing from the list of concerns of American voters, despite the fact that Washington is spending billions of dollars on this account. This money could otherwise be pumped into the economy, which would help create more jobs — the number one concern of the American people.
“People are more concerned about what to put on the table and how to pay for house rent instead of worrying about the war on terror being fought thousands of miles away,” said Vasilliadis . He said after the Time Square failed bomb attempt there was some concern, but the war on terrorism is not a concern of the American people as it used to be four or five years ago.
“Foreign policy is not a priority in the mid-term elections. The war on terrorism and drone attacks in Pakistan does not affect people here,” said David Damore, associate professor at the department of political science in University of Nevada.
Another assistant professor at the university, Kenneth Fernandez, said that whether President Barack Obama wins or loses, the House of Representatives will not change the status quo on Afghanistan and Pakistan. “His (Obama) hands may be tied up on foreign policy but they (Democrats and Republicans) will not fight on funding.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2010.
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