The conservative political pundit Charles Krauthammer reminds his readers in a column for the Washington Post that Jesus Christ only healed the sick whilst presidential candidate Barack Obama would not waste his time with odds and sods. He goes head on for the big goals. On the 3rd of June, when defeating Hillary Clinton in the Minnesota primaries, he declared this a historical moment and promised the rise of the oceans to be reversed and the planet to be healed. That truly is an ambitious message by any standards. Not less overwhelming was the crowd Mr. Obama attracted in Berlin last week. An estimated 200.000 people of Berlin flocked to a public square in Germany’s capital city to listen. If anything Americans were stunned by the images from Europe they were presented on their evening news. John McCain’s supporters cynically wondered if anyone in battle ground states such as Missouri would want to vote for a Senator who is hailed by crowds of European youngsters as if he was the messiah.

Already in January the online magazine “Slate“ set up a section entitled “Messiah Watch” which clearly mocked the Democratic candidate’s choreographed grandeur. After Obama’s stunning appearance in Berlin they had some news and gossip to add to their internet forum. “Mother Jones”, a left wing monthly magazine, runs a blog that warns readers of the cult of “Obamania” which they feared would furnish conservatives with ammunition they need to undermine the Democratic candidate. These days this apprehension appears to be coming true. John McCain revelled in Mr. Obama’s decision not to visit the US air force base in Lanstuhl, Germany. The Democratic contender retorted that he did not want to use the backdrop of wounded soldiers to further his presidential bid. The true story Mr. McCain and the media suspect is a different one: Once the Pentagon made it clear that they did not want any TV cameras on the base, Mr. Obama seems to have lost interest in a visit. The very afternoon he could have visited the air force base Mr. Obama held a foto session in a Berlin gym – or so McCain’s team spun the story.

Paradoxically what appears to damage Mr. Obama’s campaign most is his perfectionism and outstanding talent. Quite like other high achievers he takes flack for towering too high over his peers. Unfortunately, this is a criticism he has for too long appeared to be oblivious to. Otherwise he would probably not have decided at the tender age of 34 that it was time to write his first autobiography (“Dreams from my father”). With hindsight he was probably not well advised to add a second volume a decade later (“The audacity of hope”). Both his books have only one main story line and protagonist: Barack Obama. No wonder his last publication earned itself the mock title “Audacity of Vanity”. And his critics have a point, after all what has this aspiring and talented junior Senator from Illinois achieved so far that deserves two autobiographies? The ‘Boston Globe’ reminds us that his opponent John McCain was 63 years of age when he turned his experiences as navy pilot, former prisoner of war and long standing Senator into an autobiographic piece of writing.

As if all this was not bad enough Mr. Obama recently also fell victim of full blown gaffes when he tried on the trappings of presidential power. He flew into Europe in his own jet aircraft whose design clearly reminded his audience of Air Force One. This arrangement helped give him a presidential air. However, Mr. Obama’ grand entry may have irritated many of his rather modest electorate let alone Republican voters who begrudge him a treatment that would otherwise befit a head of state. Mr. Obama’s hyper active crew crossed the thin line between a powerful image and preposterous gimmickry when it came up with his seal (of office). It is little wonder that the design somehow did remind the audience of the Presidential seal. But that is not all: Do have a guess what motto the presidential hopeful had engraved on it: “Vero Possumus.” It is Latin for “Yes, we can.” We can be sure this will secure Mr. Obama another avalanche of ridicule.