One of Britain's leading Conservative bloggers, Iain Dale, recently asked his readers who they would support in the US elections if they had a vote. Astonishingly, they split 55.5% for the Democratic Party - see here
And which candidate would they support? Over the break to find out....
50% of Britain's Conservatives would vote for - Barack Obama. Only 23% went for Hilary (this is after all the party which put Margaret Thatcher in power as Britain's first woman Prime Minister, so make of that what you will!).
This is quite some shift. Historically, there was always a close tie-up between the left-of-centre Labour Party and the Democratic Party on the one hand and the Conservatives and the Republican party on the other. In the 2006 Conference the Conservatives had McCain as a speaker; this year they had Arnie. But of course Tony Blair tipped things upside down with his bonding with Bush - a position which new-boy Gordon Brown has largely continued. It now seems the whole thing may have gone fully 180 degrees.
This is of note because recent British polls suggest that after more than a decade frozen out, the Conservatives under David Cameron are benefitting from the woeful start to the top job made by Gordon Brown - and may be on course to form the next British Government (sometime before mid-2010). Perhaps relations between a new Democratic President and a conservative Prime Minister might be warmer than might first be thought.
By the by, the Liberal Democrats (hear that, boy? They're Librul AND Democrats - have they no shame?) have just elected a new leader, Nick Clegg - at 40, a generational shift from his predecessor. He may yet have some role in deciding who wins the next election - and in the event of a hung parliament, be the power broker)