The international card in the campaign.

A small mistep by the Socialist camp yesterday has given Rajoy a bit of a boost. PSOE seems to have forgotten about the symbolic importance of international support in democratic politics. While Felipe Gonzalez in the 70s and 80s actively seeked the support of European Socialists in Germany, France and Scandinavia, Zapatero seems prone to avoid such endeavours.

However, it seems to me that under the current state of European social democracy, Zapatero is more popular and high profile abroad than any other Socialist leader in Europe could ever be in Spain. The only two strong leftwing governments in Europe are the UK and Spain. France, Germany and Italy have no strong Socialist oppositions that could be brought to endorse Zapatero. And in the case of Brown it would actually, under my point of view, backfire because of his support for the war in Iraq and the commonly held view in Spain that Labour isn't really a leftwing party and Brown isn't really Tony Blair.

On the other hand, Rajoy yesterday went away to Paris to meet with Sarkozy and Merkel in a UMP rally. As you can see in the video below, Rajoy doesn't look the most decissive of leaders, neither Sarkozy nor Merkel seem enthusiastic enough about Rajoy's presence. It looked more like a 'family obligation' sort of show, a bit like wearing that ugly sweater your grandma made when you go see her.

So many today in Spain may wonder if PSOE has lost support in Europe. I would say that would be a big mistake to make. Zapatero remains by far the most popular leftwing leader in Europe. When Segolene Royal was campaigning in France she brought Zapatero over to rally the French socialists. Sarkozy, despite his official endorsement of Rajoy yesterday, was quick then to point out shared views between Zapatero and himself. Furthermore, today Merkel and Zapatero are meeting in Majorca for the Spanish-German summit and the French-Spanish one, a month ago, brought about the most important anti-terrorist alliance ever agreed in Europe between Sarkozy and Zapatero.

Those that think Zapatero isn't a very influential leader abroad should think twice about it. When he has gone abroad he has achieved his proposed goals and he maintains excellent relations with our neighbours (Morocco, Algeria, France and Portugal), within the EU and in the UN, through the Alliance of Civilisations project. Those who equate international standing with Aznar-like noise-making are extremely ignorant about the nature of Spain's strengths in the international sphere. Spain should be a soft-power, a diplomatic bridge between Latin America, the Arab World and Europe. Our history proves that is where we should be and not trying to embrace more than we should, like Aznar did in Iraq.

Having said all that symbolism from a communication perspective counts, how about a US Democrat endorsement? That would really be quite something, and if is Obama even better.

Here is the video, it is certainly an awkward moment, I wouldn't really call that an endorsement...judge for yourselves...