Charisma is a double-edged sword.

No-one like being told what to do and we can all be a bit bloody-minded when someone repeatedly tells us that something's in our own best interests. Even if we know they are right, we can be inclined to do the exact opposite.

That's why it might be wise for Europeans to shut up about the American election. For most Europeans, the choice is simple... Barack Obama represents an opportunity for America to renew itself after eight years of misrule under a President seen by many to be a ridiculous figure. Opting for Obama would suggest that America could once again become the beacon of liberal progressiveness that made the cause of freedom worth fighting for. (Bush frequently accuses his enemies as fighting against ‘freedom’ but this has long been incompatible with his administration’s illiberal policies and their absolute contempt for human rights and International law.)

A vote for Obama would also suggest America’s democracy has reached a new more mature phase because the white majority were willing to elect a black President and that too would send a positive message to the rest of the world.

But Europeans have a different experience of the Bush presidency than most Americans. We didn’t vote for him so there is no self-criticism in coming to terms with his administration’s failures. It’s easy to dismiss Bush as a buffoon if you never thought he was anything else... but if you elected him President then you have to confront what that says about you and your country.

It’s also important to bear in mind that political parties play a less significant role in American politics. Throughout most of Europe, John McCain’s task would be almost impossible as he would not be able to distance himself sufficiently from the failures of an unpopular incumbent. But politics doesn’t work like that in America... although, McCain’s links to Bush are certainly unhelpful they are not nearly as damaging as one might suppose.

Even so, it’s very tempting to assume that the only thing standing between Obama and an election win is the colour of his skin. Is it fair to surmise that Obama would be in an unassailable position if he was Caucasian? Well, not necessarily. Barack Obama’s bid for the Presidency has drawn a lot of comparisons with John F Kennedy’s 1960 election. Then as now, a young, good-looking and charismatic Democrat was seeking the keys to the Oval Office. The incumbent Dwight Eisenhower was not nearly as unpopular as George W Bush, but his approval rating had shrunk during his second term.

Kennedy’s opponent was Richard Nixon who had already developed a sufficient reputation for underhandedness to gain the nickname Tricky Dicky. Nixon was closely associated with the outgoing administration as he had served as Eisenhower’s Vice President.

Nonetheless, the Presidential election was one of the closest in America’s history. So if the result next week is closer than many might hope, we shouldn't assume the worst... it may merely suggest that the American electorate is still mistrustful of charisma, idealism and good looks in a Presidential candidate and it won’t necessarily have anything to do with the colour of Obama’s skin.