World Reacts With Open Arms, Eye on Reconciliation Global pundits weigh in on a historic victory By Jason Farago, Newser Staff Posted Nov 5, 2008 12:13 PM CST Copied Residents celebrate as it is announced on television that Barack Obama has been elected the president of the United States in Obama, western Japan, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye) The election of Barack Obama has been watched around the world, and pundits from all over are weighing in. In Germany's Der Spiegel, Gabor Steingart says the president-elect's genius is his "tone of political romanticism." Americans warmed to his message of sympathy and reflection—and made the whole world an offer of reconciliation. Dutch writer Ian Buruma writes in the Guardian that "there is something odd about the European mania for a black American politician." But despite recent years, the Continent has always loved the States, and Obama reminds them of the glory of the "extraordinary republic." Britain's political leaders are already grabbing at Obama's coattails, Andrew Grice observes in the Independent. Gordon Brown is positioning himself as a trans-Atlantic economic adviser, while opponent David Cameron is grasping for the mantle of change. And in Haaretz, Aluf Benn writes that last night's victory, aided by a strong turnout among Jews, will embolden Tzipi Livni in her race to become prime minister. (More Barack Obama stories.) Report an error