Mostly a question for non-US 'dopers. Seriously…how much do you care about the current US elections? I was reading this article on Yahoo! and thinking to myself ‘I bet most folks in other countries actually don’t give a rip’.
However, here is a perfect forum to ask non-US 'dopers the question. In your countries, how much interest is there really in the US presidential elections?
As a side question, who do you feel is the better choice? Hillary or Obama (I assume practically no one favors a Republican president)? And who do you feel is the more popular in your country as well (if anyone…I suspect it’s going to be a matter of vast indifference to the majority, with only those politics hounds really caring)?
I find there’s actually a fair amount of interest here, though apart from my grad school classmates I find that most of the Japanese I know are interested purely for the novelty factor.
In the UK, major events in the Presidential election usually get high billing on TV news and in the papers. On election day, there is live coverage as the votes are counted.
As to how much regular people actually care, well, I’d say that some people take an interest, but probably not the majority. It’s not really a hot topic of pub conversation or anything like that. Still, I’m sure Tuesday’s primaries will get “above the fold” coverage in most media once the results are known.
Edit to add: I personally favour Obama out of all the candidates still standing. Difficult to explain my reasoning/instinct in a couple of lines. I suspect most Brits would be happy to see GWB gone and will regard anyone to the left of Genghis Khan as an improvement. Popular opinion probably swings Democrat, more so since the Iraq fiasco has been massively unpopular in the UK, and seems likely to sink the Labour party at our own general election, whenever that turns out to be.
Here in Germany, a lot. Now in primary season, coverage in my local paper is about half a page all reports taken together, sometimes one page. In the last few months before November it will be much the same, with corresponding TV coverage. It’s going to be the major foreign news topic until then unless a major war breaks out (or a minor war in the Balkans).
As the US is an economic behemoth (our exposure to its economic welfare being still larger than it was in 1929) and an irresistable military threat the US president is a de factor emperor of the world, elected by a small subset of his/her subjects. Personally I expect my personal welfare to be impacted by the US (presidential and legislative) elections perhaps less than by the German federal elections, but more than by any German state election including my own state.
My personal favourite: Obama (I’d expect Clinton to be GWB lite on foreign policy, on past record but still more because the right’s propaganda against Bill’s tenure might let her be pressured to prove her hawkish credentials).
As a totally random and mundane example of how pervasive the coverage is, even the “radio” in the local supermarket covers the primaries between their special offers, elevator music and fake PSAs on the health benefits of the vegetable of the day.
Obama, but I have to admit that it’s mostly based on her personality and/or campaign style. Unfortunately most information on their actual plans seems horribly vague and noncommittal. Btw. if I had to make a bet I’d say Clinton wins the nomination and is defeated by McCain.
Actually I do read it. Because it’s in the BBC doesn’t necessarily mean that is how most people think though…and even if it’s how most Brits think that doesn’t mean the rest of The World™ thinks that way as well.
I’m following it very closely. That’s par for the course - I’m always interested in U.S. politics. However, I’m even more interested than usual in this particular electoral cycle. I don’t want to derail this thread, so I’ll just say that I think Duby has been a disaster, and I’m curious to see how the US electorate decides this year, in light of his record.
What has surprised me is that Mrs. Piper is also following the primaries closely - she’s not been very interested in U.S. politics in the past. Her reason for following it closely this time is two-fold: her low opinion of Dubya, and her interest in Hilary Clinton making a determined run for the presidency.
I’m in Australia and pretty interested in the election, primarily because I’m an Obama fangirl. In general I read the SDMB threads, glance at the articles in my local newspaper, and look up some of the speeches on YouTube. I could tell you the Democrat and Republican frontrunners, but not detailed policy.
Most people I know don’t really care about the US election, beyond being pleased that Bush will be gone. I don’t think I’d care so much except I liked Obama’s keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic convention, and was pleased to hear that he was running. Very shallow reasons, but there you go.
In the UK I think there is more interest this time than previously. A couple of factors:
George W - viewed as something between a dangerous lunatic and a complete figure of fun * , there is naturally a lot of interest in what America will choose next.
Clinton and Obama - will the US choose a woman or a black man?
Not a personal judgement - just the general attitude in the UK.
I think I would like him, except that he seems too willing to pander. I mean, trying to appeal to parts of your party’s base is expected, but I’m not sure I like who he’s trying to get into bed with. But he’s certainly the best Republican candidate in my eyes, and better than a good few of the Dems.
What he said, and not just 'coz we’re from the same place. The only way I’d differ is that in my asterisk I will say that this is my personal judgement too.
I too would favour Obama (or McCain at a push - he seems to have a modicum of integrity, though I wouldn’t know how much he could overcome the neocon legacy).
I’m not sure what you mean about the “neocon legacy”. Most of the purported neocons were Bush appointees who wouldn’t stay on unless McCain wanted them to. In fact, many of them are already gone. You don’t find that group much represented by the career bureaucrats that stay regardless of the administration.