Obama´s presidency to start amid expectations, hopes, challenges

Source: Xinhua | 01-20-2009 16:45

By Wang Wei

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's historic journey to the White House reaches its successful end on Tuesday when he takes oath of office as the new president, but he will face a rougher road filled with expectations, hopes and challenges.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama smiles while attending the Bipartisan dinner honoring U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) in Washington Jan. 19, 2009.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Even before his presidency begins, Obama has been written into history for his unique power in the presidential campaign to inspire and energize millions of Americans to congregate under his banner of "changes we believe."

His honeymoon continued after the Nov. 4 election when he defeated Republican rival John McCain not only in the blue states but also in some traditionally red ones.

FROM PROMISE TO PRACTICE

A recent national poll showed that Obama's approval rating had risen to nearly 80 percent, revealing people's satisfaction with his work in the transition of power, establishment of his cabinet, as well as high expectations of his administration after Jan. 20.

However, to maintain and strengthen the goodwill, Obama has to live up to what he has promised in the campaign, including changing the culture in Washington, D.C., bipartisan cooperation, economic recovery, increasing education and employment opportunities, improving social policies and regaining world leadership.

It is expected that the framework of Obama's administration will be revealed in his inaugural address and might include some, if not all, of his priorities during the early days of his presidency. It is also foreseeable that most of his choices will have been limited by the status quo in the United States and legacies left behind by President George W. Bush's years in the White House.

"From everything you read and everything you hear from this town and everything he has indicated, he is committed to getting this economy moving again," Todd Gillenwater, a resident of Washington, D.C., said.

"I am confident the incoming president working hopefully with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to really do what he has promised to do, which was to change the culture in Washington, and come up with a proposal and do hard work it needs to turn this economy around."