OK, I promised not to go there.

I'm amused at the planning of Obama's overseas tour. Lot's of detailed planning for symbolism and substance -maximised for back home coverage and a 3:1 bang for the buck in terms of free publicity: Case in point:

Go take a look - send McCain and the RNC some facial tissues

Spiegel Online has a Live Ticker (minute by minute blogging - just about) -

Obama Calls Berlin a 'Symbol of the Victory of Hope'

++ Obama Ahead in the Polls ++

5:42 p.m.: The latest opinion poll to be released in the US shows that Obama is leading his Republican rival John McCain by 6 percentage points, with 47 percent of those polled saying they would vote for Obama in November compared to 41 percent who would vote for McCain. The poll was conducted for the Wall Street Journal and NBC News.

++ Hold-Ups as Visitors Throng Fan Mile ++

5:08 p.m: The huge amount of people hoping to gain entry to the Fan Mile is causing big hold-ups. It is currently taking around half an hour to gain entry to the area.

++ Obama Extends his Berlin Trip ++

4:59 p.m.: Obama seems to like the German capital. He is to stay longer on Friday than he had originally planned, delaying his departure for Paris by two hours to just after noon. According to his team, however, these plans can change at any time.

++ Obama Takes Time to Work Out ++

4:49 p.m.: Obama enters the luxury Ritz Carlton hotel wearing a T-shirt, black sweatpants and white trainers -- apparantly to work out in the hotel's gym. He kept up the campaigning on the way there, smiling and waving at tourists and other onlookers.

++ Obama Signs Berlin's Guest Book ++

4:33 p.m.: The meeting between Obama and Wowereit lasts 20 minutes, during which the Berlin mayor asks the senator about integration strategies in the US. Obama then signs the city's guestbook, which Wowereit has brought with him to the Hotel Adlon. He writes: "Thank you so much for this open-hearted welcome. Berlin is a symbol for the victory of hope over fear and that it is impossible to separate people in their pursuit of freedom."

++ Americans Throng toward the Fan Mile ++

[.]

-healthy in general (and does that mean he's a young man vs. McCain)
-stamina for a demanding job
-or strapping and packing (and if she didn't mean that, then maybe mentioning that she wouldn't mind a backrub--ew!--wasn't a great idea).

I just don't know. I've got some German friends--I think I'll ask for their opinion on that.

Can't hear ya, Peach!