Odds on Brown's Congress Speech

UK betting agencies are adding a little interest to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's March 4 speech to both chambers of the United States Congress, offering odds on which words he will use during his speech.

The UK and US have long had a "special relationship", and Ladbrokes is tipping that is set to continue, offering odds of 1.20 on Brown uttering the two special words.

With British troops still serving alongside their American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, it looks almost certain those two countries will get a mention in the speech, carrying odds of 1.20 and 1.25 respectively.

Terrorism is also expected to get a mention, at 1.33, as is 9-11, at 2.00.

With world attention shifting from terrorism to the global financial crisis, economic issues are sure to get a mention in Brown's speech. U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is likely to be acknowledged by Brown, at 2.10, while "credit crunch" is at slightly longer odds at 2.25. "Bail-out" is 9.00.

The US is a more religious country than the UK, and in an effort to speak their language, Brown might refer to God - Ladbrokes is offering odds of 6.00 on such a mention.  U.S. President Barack Obama's famous slogan "Yes we can" is 17.00.

It appears less unlikely Brown will refer to England and Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham, 51.00, or to the Seattle based international coffee and coffeehouse chain Starbucks, 101.00.