Politics

What the U.K. Election Could Mean for the U.S.

By Evan Schwartz

May 12, 2010 / 6:09 PM EDT / CBS News

Gordon Brown is out, David Cameron is in as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in a stunning turn of events yesterday. The whole country is reeling from the quick turnover, which has created the first coalition government in the UK since World War II. On Washington Unplugged Wednesday, CBS News Correspondent Elizabeth Palmer spoke from London with Bob Schieffer about the mood across the pond. Palmer said that the power sharing agreement has been a coup for the formerly marginalized Liberal Democrats.

"The Liberal Democrats have been fighting to be taken seriously now for almost a decade," said Palmer. "This is the first time they've come out as a legitimate party and suddenly, to everyone's astonishment, they ended up being the power brokers."

The ousting of Brown may signal further problems for the formerly powerful Labour Party. Palmer said Brown's own unpopularity, coupled with the Labour Party's much-maligned support of the Iraq War spelled the end. For now, the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives will try to make the power sharing work.

"People think they may fall apart," said Palmer. "For the moment they are really presenting a united face."

Palmer said the new government wants a "solid, not slavish relationship between Britain and U.S."

Also on Unplugged Wednesday, Chris May of CBS Station KYW-TV in Philadelphia handicapped the Senate Democratic primary race in Pennsylvania between incumbent Sen. Arlen Specter, and Rep. Joe Sestak. May said that, while this race has been wild for months, Sestak may have finally dealt the death blow to Specter with a campaign ad called "The Switch."

"Joe Sestak at this point has effectively erased what was a 20 point lead by Arlen Specter," said May, "And much of it has to do with this advertisement."

May said the anti-Washington, anti-establishment feeling sweeping the nation has already cost Utah Republican Senator Bob Bennett a chance at running again for his own Senate seat, and may cause more casualties among incumbent senators.

Watch Washington Unplugged above.

More U.K. Election Coverage

Britain Vows "Solid, Not Slavish" Ties with U.S.
Britain Enters New Era of Coalition Government
David Cameron Gets Congratulatory Call from Obama
David Cameron, UK's "Tory Blair," Rises to Power
Nick Clegg: Stealing Britain's "Change"
British PM Gordon Brown Says He'll Step Down
The Rise of U.K.'s Third-Party Star Nick Clegg

"Washington Unplugged," CBSNews.com's exclusive daily politics Webshow, appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.