The race for the White House hotted up considerably on 'Super Tuesday' of week when 24 States selected delegates to the respective Party Conventions - to the Democratic National Convention in Denver on 25th August, and to the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St Paul (Minnesota) on 1st September.
To win the nomination as the Democratic candidate, that Party's two contenders, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama require 2,025 delegates. The Republican Party also have two candidates in the field, John McCain and Mike Huckabee, each of whom needs 1,191 to get the nomination for the head to head with their Democratic rival for the popular vote that will follow.
The present state of play for all four is as follows - (Democratic Party) Clinton 783, Obama 783; (Republican Party) McCain 559; Huckabee 169. Romney, who withdrew from the race last week, was standing at 265.
So, who's going to win and become President for a five-year term? The 'Herald' asked a man who knows his politicians and politics well, Fr Sean McManus, a native of Kinawley who is the President of the Irish National Caucus which lobbies Congressmen and Senators.
Fr McManus began: 'Last year at the Speaker's St. Patrick's lunch (to which about 50 guests are invited, including President Bush, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the Northern leaders, etc. I was standing chatting to Teddy Kennedy when Hillary came over to join us. I said, "Hillary, I want to see Barack Obama President. (dramatic pause). Her smile faded a little, and then I added, " in about ten years' time – when you have done your two terms".
"And then she smiled and chuckled that great laugh of hers. Teddy said, " Glad you have an open mind, Father".
"I thought, until recently, Teddy was just being funny, but after his endorsement of Senator Obama, I now see there may have been a bit of a sting in his retort. Many see Teddy's endorsement as stabbing Hillary in the back. They argue that because Teddy was so close to the Clintons --- Bill Clinton having appointed his sister, Jean Kennedy Smith, as Ambassador to Ireland, among other things --- he should have at least stayed neutral," Fr McManus continued.
"The reports that he endorsed Obama because he thought Bill Clinton had injected race into the election are not credible. In the first place, Bill Clinton did no such thing, and in the second place, wouldn't it be rather sexist to penalise Hillary for something her husband allegedly did? Hillary's win in Massachusetts will be seen as poetic justice.
"Personally, I had always assumed John Mc Cain and Hillary would be the nominees. Like everybody else, I was amazed at how Mc Cain had slipped in the polls, only to make a remarkable come-back. And, like everyone else I was surprised that Senator Obama has done so well."
However, as President of the Irish National Caucus, the priest explains he has only one mission - to get Members of Congress and other public figures to stand up for equality, justice and peace in Ireland -- and to accurately report their record to members and to Irish-Americans in general.
"The Irish National Caucus is not involved in any other issue," he said, "no matter how important or urgent.
"I leave it up to the US Bishops to enunciate Catholic teaching on abortion, war, poverty, etc.
"Furthermore, the Irish National Caucus is neither Republican nor Democrat, the wisdom of which becomes clear when one realises it took a Democratic President, Bill Clinton, to break the age-old State Department principle, 'leave Northern Ireland to the British Government'; and it took – at the same time --- the Republican-controlled Congress to pass our Mac Bride Principles legislation, which means that all entities in Northern Ireland that receive US dollars from the International Fund for Ireland must be in compliance with the Principles.
"Remarkably, however, some American Catholics in the past have given me a hard time for saying nice things about Hillary," he admitted.
"They seem to be saying: 'Because Hillary is pro-choice, you as a priest are not allowed to praise her record on Ireland, and if you don't watch yourself we will report you to the Bishop'! In other words, I have to tell lies for the pro-life cause. How is that Catholic doctrine?," Fr McManus question.
"I tell Irish-Americans if you can find a former First Lady with a better record on Ireland, then vote for that other person. The reality is, however, that no person has a better record on Ireland.
Senator Mc Cain has only recently been involved, and Senator Obama has simply no record of involvement in the struggle for equality, justice and peace in Ireland.
"Overall, my basic attitude to the Clintons is one of deep gratitude because they were key to bringing peace to Ireland. I don't care whether they are Protestant or Catholic, Republican or Democrat. But, there is surely a moral here for all Irish Catholics: it took a good ole Baptist, Bill, and a good Methodist, Hillary, to lift up Ireland in peace and hope.
"And for that, this Fermanaghman will be eternally grateful, and it is why the Clintons are regularly in my prayers," he concluded.
And, I am not looking for anything from the future President Clinton --- except maybe being appointed US Ambassador to Kinawley!'.
