News of Benazir Bhutto's assassination is already having its impact on the race. All the candidates have released a statement on her assassination and pundits are speculating wildly as to who it hurts or helps. Conventional wisdom says that it helps Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, the two candidates with the biggest claim to national security; while hurting the two governor's in the race, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney. However, beltway conventional wisdom can be misguided...
When was the last time the average American cared about the assassination of a foreign leader? How about a foreign leader out of power?
The United States really cannot do anything in this situation, and I think Americans understand that. Despite candidates like Joe Biden trying to turn this into a political football, the world is just not that simple. Pakistan is an ally, but unless the perps make their way into Iraq or Afghanistan, there is not very much we can do. President Bush gave his condolences and reassurances, but that is about all he can do.
On the campaign trail, international politics as an issue has been raised; but only for a day (ok, maybe a couple days). But by next week, it will be back to business as usual.
Politics on the Pakistani campaign trail may never return to normal. The new opposition leader, Nawaz Sharif, has declared that his party will be boycotting the upcoming election, and he is calling on President Pervez Musharraf to step down.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Prime Minister Bhutto, her family, and her people.
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