Obama seeks help from top Irish-Americans

Former US senator George Mitchell: to advise Obama
Photograph: The Irish Times

BARACK Obama has asked former senator George Mitchell and six leading Irish-American politicians to advise him on Irish issues and to help his campaign reach Irish-American voters.

The advisory panel will include senators Edward Kennedy, Chris Dodd and Patrick Leahy, Maryland governor Martin O'Malley and congressmen Richard Neal and Joe Crowley.

"I am delighted to be able to call upon a 'dream team' of leaders who cherish the US-Irish bond as I do," Mr Obama said. "I look forward to putting in place policies that will fortify this indispensable relationship."

The Obama campaign was taken aback last week by the hostile reaction from Irish-American activists to a position paper on Irish issues which suggested that Mr Obama could abolish the position of US special envoy to the North.

The new panel brings together some of the most authoritative figures on Irish affairs in American public life, with strong and extensive links to the Irish-American community.

Some of Mr Obama's supporters believe the Democratic candidate has relied until now on too narrow a group of advisers on Irish affairs, allowing John McCain to outmanoeuvre him in pursuit of Irish-American support.

Mr McCain personally intervened in the drafting of the Republican party platform, which was approved in St Paul yesterday, to include a commitment to retaining the special envoy.

"The special US envoy was first appointed by president Clinton and has been critical to fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.

"That Senator Obama would be willing to toss aside one of the signature diplomatic accomplishments of the Clinton administration and put the progress in Northern Ireland at risk is only further evidence that he is simply not ready to lead," Mr McCain's spokesman Brian Rogers said last week.

Mr Obama's campaign said the creation of the advisory panel reflected the importance the candidate attached to US-Irish relations and his admiration for Ireland's progress towards peace and prosperity.

"As president he intends to do all the United States can do to help deepen the peace that so many have worked so hard to establish, and to strengthen US-Irish cultural, educational, and trade ties, which are central to the identities of the United States and Ireland," the campaign said.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times