Barack Obama's grandmother dies.

It's so strange because I thought of her only today. It occurred to me that we hadn't heard any news and I thought she'll probably last long enough to find out if he's made it and then slip away.

And then I come home tonight to this dreadful news.

The grandmother of US candidate Barack Obama has died on the eve of the presidential election.

Madelyn Dunham, 86, had cancer. She had been a key figure in Mr Obama's early life, and helped raise him.

When her health deteriorated last month, the Democratic candidate left the campaign trail for two days to visit her in Hawaii.

Mr Obama has spoken of their strong bond and referred to her in some of his most powerful campaign speeches.

Announcing her death on Monday, Mr Obama said: "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility.

"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances."

That makes me so sad. She died literally two days before she would have known if her grandson had made history.

I'm sure he said all he wanted to say to her, and I know that she had lived to a good age, but I would have liked her to know whether or not he had pulled it off before she slipped away.

This way is just too sad.

UPDATE:

The comments section at Michelle Malkin's blog take your breath away. To be fair most people are simply offering condolences, but there is an active crowd who, whilst some try to restrain them, simply won't shut up:

On November 3rd, 2008 at 5:04 pm, ThatSamIAm said:

It’s sad. I wish the loss of a family member on nobody.

If it helps I’m sure she will vote tomorrow in Ohio.

On November 3rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm, BobonStatenIsland said:

Will BHO now get the Sympathy” Vote? Will he fly to Hawaii to oversee the last wishes of his grandmother? We’ll never get to ask her any questions. Had she passed on Wed. the Left/Media would have blamed it on Obama’s loss and racism. Did he really have any real love for her? Maybe, but he didn’t bring his wife and children to see her the week before she passed. And where was she at his christening to the Democratic Nomination.

I hope she passed painlessly.

On November 3rd, 2008 at 5:16 pm, CoffeeGuzzler said:

It’s sad for this woman…..rest her soul. It’s really sad that her grandson will use her death to get sympathy votes rather than morn [sic] her like a normal human.

There's no comment I need to make on any of that. It speaks for itself.

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Tags: Obama, Grandmother, US election 2008, dies, death