Obama from Paris

I’m studying in Paris this semester, and as expected, Obama has quite a few fans over here. People smiled at my Obama shirt on the metro today, there was all day TV coverage of the inauguration and at 6pm Paris time, bars were packed with people watching the swearing in.

Earlier tonight I was talking politics with a French friend of mine who was complaining about President Sarkozy, then proceeded to blast Ségolène Royal (Sarkozy’s opponent in last year’s election).  Annoyed with his excessively critical French manner, I asked him what French politicians he actually liked.  His answer? “Beh… Barack Obama.”

Granted, the French seem to acknowledge (as do most Americans) that Obama has his work cut out for him.  But even from the vantage point of the often-skeptical land of France, one cannot deny the power of Obama’s story.

And if you’ve had enough pomp and circumstance and lofty rhetoric for one day, you can always check out Obama’s new blog.

Here we go, baby…