Clinton Not Favored for UN Post

Once the early favorite to replace Kofi Annan as UN Secretary General, Bill Clinton is now losing ground to other potential candidates. The star power of the former U.S. President has been overshadowed by growing demands from Asians who believe it is time for a leader from their region to head the world organization. Sportsbook.com, the world's largest online sportsbook and casino, has the inside track and is now offering updated odds on the race to replace Kofi Annan.

Clinton's odds have slipped from 5-2 in January to 10-1 currently. While there is little doubt that Clinton would bring an unparalleled track record of political success and proven international diplomacy to the secretariat, a number of member states have expressed concern that his nomination would bring an excess of American influence to the UN.

Few countries have publicly endorsed a candidate, but there is rampant speculation that Annan's successor will be a political heavyweight hailing from an Asian country. Within the General Assembly itself, there is an understanding that it is now Asia's turn to fill the post. At this stage, the favorites include the only three declared Asian candidates: Thailand's deputy Prime Minister, Surakiart Sathirathai, (5-2); South Korea's foreign minister, Ban Ki-moon, (5-2); and Sri Lanka's Jayantha Dhanapala, (7-2).

Other candidates include Poland's outgoing President Aleksander Kwasniewski with 10-1 odds and the exiled leader of Myanmar's National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi with 12-1 odds. Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa and human rights activist, is a sentimental favorite and rounds out the list with 25-1 odds, but many observers believe he is too frail to take office.

"There may be a Clinton in the White House again, Hillary that is, but bettors are telling us there's no way we will see two Clinton's wielding such power," said Alex Czajkowski, Marketing Director, Sportsbook.com. "Everybody bets, so, with Clinton moving down in the odds and the race now wide open, it's a great time to gamble on who is most likely to lead the UN into the next decade."

2006-06-07