Distant Couples

While reading/perusing/skimming through the first four chapters, I struggled to make a connection between any of the characters and one of the 2008 election candidates. The trouble may be a simple result of not knowing too much, on a personal level, about the candidates, and being presented with virtually nothing but personal information for the characters of "White Teeth." The only real indulgence of research I've done as to the personal lives of the candidates comes from the Cindy McCain article posted several weeks ago. It was then that I was able to formulate a connection.

While reading chapter two, the initial relationship of Clara and Ryan struck me as being similar to that of John and Ciny McCain. Ryan is described as an unattractive, unpopular individual. John McCain currently shares this unfortunate description. Although Ryan's appearance is essentially opposite to John McCain, they both are physically unremarkable. Ryan is also described as having a "tedious personality," and it's no exaggeration to say that McCain is also pretty long-winded, and like Ryan, not so popular. Put against Obama, McCain falls short in just about every popularity vote taken thus far.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20080706-9999-1n6electors.html
http://people-press.org/report/425/mccain-obama-negatives
http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Vote2008/story?id=5177916
http://www.surveyusa.com/index.php/2008/03/06/electoral-math-as-of-030608-obama-280-mccain-258/
Still, McCain's wife stands by him, despite having been virtually abandoned by him on more than one occasion. Left at home, she has been forced to fend and live for herself, as well as develop her own skills and public lifestyle. This was the bit that allowed me to make the final connection:
"Clara's inexplicable dedication to Ryan Topps knew no bounds."
Ryan is also described as caring more about his work than anything anything else, save perhaps himself. This description sounds awfully like John McCain, and yet Cindy McCain, like Clara, has stuck by her husband despite overwhelming circumstances.