The current cover of Der Spiegel prepares the readers of Europe’s biggest weekly news magazine for Barack Obama’s first public appearance in Berlin this Thursday. The headline “Deutschland trifft den Superstar: Barack Obamas Auftritt in Berlin” (Germany meets the super star: Barack Obama’s appearance in Berlin) is a direct reference to the popular German reality TV talent show “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” (Germany searches the super star) modeled after the “Idol series”.

In his op-ed “The Audacity of Vanity” Charles Krauthammer already commented on Obama’s upcoming trip to Berlin, where the Democratic presidential candidate initially wanted to speak at famous Brandenburg Gate:

Barack Obama wants to speak at the Brandenburg Gate. He figures it would be a nice backdrop. The supporting cast--a cheering audience and a few fainting frauleins--would be a picturesque way to bolster his foreign policy credentials.

After Chancellor Merkel voiced her opposition to an Obama speech at the famous Brandenburg Gate, the Democratic presidential candidate chose Berlin’s Siegessäule (Victory Column) as an alternative venue. It is just about half a mile from the Brandenburg Gate and will still provide a picturesque backdrop for Barack Obama’s speech. Berlin authorities expect that up to one million people could show up to listen to Senator Obama. By any standard, that would be a remarkable figure and could most likely be the biggest audience that Barack Obama will have ever addressed. The Obamamania that has gripped Europe and many other parts of the world is well known. But U.S. presidential elections are not about popularity contests abroad.