The Pragmatic Rupert Murdoch

By Ron Beasley

Right wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch has predicted the Barak Obama will win the Presidency and actually had some nice things to say about him.

CARLSBAD, California (Reuters) - News Corp Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch on Wednesday predicted a Democratic landslide in the U.S. presidential election against a gloomy economic backdrop over the next 18 months.

Murdoch has yet to endorse a U.S. presidential candidate but considers Barack Obama very promising, the media magnate said in an interview by two Wall Street Journal reporters at an annual conference for high-tech industry insiders.

News Corp recently acquired ownership of the Journal and its parent company Dow Jones & Co.

"You have got the Obama phenomenon. You have got, undoubtedly, a recession ... The average American is really getting hurt financially and that all bodes well for him (Obama), Murdoch said.

"You have probably the making of a complete phenomenon in this country," Murdoch said in describing what he predicted will be a sweeping victory for Democrats in November.

He goes on to say that while Obama may have some problems McCain's ties to the Bush administration and the failing economy present McCain with even more problems.

So what is this all about?  Yes, there is the pragmatic desire to be on the winning side - the Democrats are receiving as much if not more corporate money as the Republicans for the first election cycle in a long time.  But is there more to it?  I think so.  The less delusional right wingers realize the Bush administration has made a mess of everything and tarnished the Republican/conservative brand.  They also realize that no President will be able to put all the pieces back together again in four or even eight years.  The best long term strategy to refresh the Republican brand would be to pass the blame to the Democrats.