With the Democratic Convention opening in Denver, Colorado there is renewed interest among political betting enthusiasts about the prospects of Barack Obama in the race for the White House, which culminates in the Presidential election in November. Hugely successful with voters in his appeal for change, Obama must now look to putting the ‘meat on the bones’ by outlining his policies and satisfying the question lingering in the minds of many Americans, ‘change – but change what?’

Needing also to attract the votes of the Clinton camp, much importance is being attached to what the Clinton’s will have to say at the convention. Bill Clinton’s contribution is the most anticipated because Hilary has already said her piece in her campaign. As always, Bill will captivate his audience and undoubtedly encourage massive support for Obama. If it will be enough to allay fears among the electorate that Barack does not have the steel to protect America from a terrorist threat remains to be seen. Democrats do not expect this campaign to be easy. Their history is largely one of disappointment.

In fact, this campaign for the presidency will be one of the closest in living memory. Barack’s choice of the experienced veteran Senator Joe Biden as his running mate will go a long way to winning the blue collar vote but, in the end, it’s a going to be about allaying the fears of the ordinary American. Better the devil you know than the one you don’t. It’s one thing when you’re dying of cancer and the doctors don’t seem to be able to do a thing to improve your condition. It’s quite another to abandon the drugs and put yourself in the hands of a faith healer.

It will be a fascinating three months for fans of the next US president betting. Your shrewdness of judgement will surely be tested here. Today, living in a 24/7 news environment in which a candidate must respond to a verbal attack within minutes, it may all come down to a moment in time. Joe Klein, old-hand political commentator and author of ‘Primary Colours’, is waiting for that winning moment, the ‘read my lips – no more taxes’ kind of comment which captures the imagination of voters and sweeps a candidate to success.