It is to say a new historicstage in relations between Europe and the United States -- not only economically, but also from a political and moral point of view.
Indeed when the BBC tried to stage a TV debate between the candidates both men linked by these historic allegations declined to take part, leaving the stage open to the remaining two candidates in the field.
Trying to bring these voters back into the Democratic fold, Obama left the stage and hit the streets of historic Abingdon to shake hands and hobnob in an old-fashioned soda shop.