A few weeks ago, when I was fretting needlessly about Barack Obama's campaign prospects, I wondered aloud in this spot whether he had a sense of humour. A man in his line of work, it's best for him, better for all of us, if he does. It helps get everyone through those dark nights of the soul and financial collapses.
Anyway, I quoted a pro-Obama Democrat friend who had raised the worry with me during a visit to Washington in the summer. By coincidence, his wife (she had not been party to our chat, so I assume it's a coincidence) has just sent me this link.
It dates from 2005 and is footage from a charity fundraiser at which the butt of all the jokes is Rahm Emanuel, the tough and profane Chicago congressman who helped run the Obama campaign and is now to become White House chief of staff.
It's full of in-jokes, though we can all get the one where Obama denies tensions within the Illinois congressional delegation in Washington, while admitting they're the only delegation with their own food-taster.
There's also a good gag about missing fingers, which works if you know that the raised middle finger is the American equivalent of our own two fingered gesture.
I was encouraged. See what you think.
