The EU is definitely well suited to become the next Superpower, its economy is already larger than that of the USA. Europe is an industrial powerhouse, more large corporations are based in the EU than in the United States. The Euro is thrashing the US Dollar on world markets, its getting to the point that even those CNBC reporters are wondering about the Dollar's future. Without a strong economic foundation you cannot build an Empire. The Europeans have achieved the impossible, uniting a Continent that was long plagued by war and division. The Vatican and the Catholic Church are also playing a key role in unifying Europe. In trouble spots around the world, people are looking to Europe now for assistance, most notably in the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict comes to mind, as both sides are looking to Europe to play a much bigger role.
The world has been largely disappointed with the current US administration, even if "Change" comes to the White House this year, its not going to change diminished worldwide perceptions of the US at all. All three candidates vying for the Presidency don't seem to stir up much enthusiasm. Obama did for a little while but now turned out to be another yuppie not a Churchill like figure. McCain is too old and will probably repeat the mistakes of the current administration. Clinton largely seems to stir up negative feelings. Like it or not the pages of history are turning to a new chapter. On top of that the US is losing its industrial base to China and other developing Asian nations such as India. The world is going to be very different.