US gridlock warning for post-election period

The US economy risks being in a state of gridlock for the crucial last few weeks of the year, irrespective of who wins the November election, according to a leading independent American political analyst.

Washington-based Andy Friedman said even if President Obama is re-elected on 6 November he will not take up his second term of office until mid-January 2013, and this interim seven-week period will be ‘the mother of all lame-duck sessions’. According to the most recent analysis of the US electorate, 35% of Americans consider themselves Democrats, 34% Republicans and 31% Independent. Friedman believes it is this latter group who will be crucial in deciding the outcome of the election. Friedman said if Obama does win he may face a Congress where both separate chambers, the Senate and th...