There will be much jostling for position in the chancelleries of Europe and the Middle East this week, as political types from London to Jerusalem compete for the hottest ticket of 2008: the chance to sit down with Barack Obama. David Cameron's team wasted no time in bellowing their delight that they had bagged a meeting with the Democrats' anointed leader, scheduled for July 26, announcing it before Downing Street had so much as opened its

mouth. The distracted newspaper reader could be forgiven for thinking that Obama is crossing the Atlantic solely to meet the leader of the Conservative party, leaving Gordon Brown out in the cold.

There'll be versions of that little drama played out everywhere the Democratic nominee goes on his grand tour, as local pols compete like kids in the playground to show that they're Obama's bestest best friend.

What of the rest of us? The US media is assuming that we'll be turning out in massive numbers, all but throwing street parades for the new American saviour. Setting the bar high, Obama's team is said to be encouraging parallels between the candidate's upcoming visit to Germany and John F Kennedy's legendary Ich Bin Ein Berliner address in 1963.

Obviously a warm reception can only be good for the Illinois senator. But maybe not that warm. After all, one of the hoariest Republican attack lines deployed against Democratic opponents is that they are vaguely foreign, somehow more comfortable abroad, and therefore likely to put America's interests second – after those of their elitist friends in Europe. Remember the Republican nickname for the Democratic nominee of 2004? They called him "Jean Cherie".

If Europeans really want to help Barack Obama next week they should repress their enthusiasm for him – and stay home. Ensure those crowds are thin and lethargic; maybe even offer the odd heckle, perhaps while brandishing a hostile placard. Let the travelling US press report that Obama is not so popular with foreigners after all: nothing will endear him more to the American public.

For those non-Americans finding it hard to feign coolness towards the Democratic candidate, let me offer two thoughts. First, as I discussed here, Obama is already tacking towards the centre, away from positions comfortable to Europeans and others.

Second, the Nixon to China syndrome works both ways: just as Republicans can afford to risk looking soft towards those deemed America's enemies, so Democrats have to bend over backwards to seem tough. All the pressure would be on a President Obama to prove he was not some patsy appeaser, perhaps by staging an early demonstration of American muscularity.

If it helps, bear all that in mind when Obama hits your neighbourhood. Remember, if you want him to win in November, do your duty – and do nothing.