A hundred days later, in Canada

Swine flu spreading in Canada — 13 cases have so far been confirmed — bumped U.S. President Barack Obama’s 100 day-report card off the front pages.

Still, the commentary was largely positive.

Most noted that despite enormous challenges, particularly with the economy, Obama has managed to convince Americans the U.S. is back on the right track.

“At least for now, there is a symbiosis between the president and the American public. Mr. Obama's cool charm, his obvious high intelligence and quiet confidence, make people feel good about their leader, and better about themselves,” writes John Ibbitson, Washington correspondent for the Globe and Mail newspaper.

“To the extent he can sustain this new consensus, Mr. Obama's presidency could be the most transformative since Ronald Reagan's,” he adds.

In an editorial, the Toronto Star newspaper argued that, “Few American presidents have reached as high as Barack Obama in their first 100 days in office.” His activism on a range of issues, including the stimulus package, the environment, and the war in Afghanistan, is leaving Canada’s Conservative Party government panting to catch up, the paper said.

http://www.globalpost.com/notebook/canada/090429/hundred-days-later-canada