Obama: The Choice of The Rest of the World (Kathmandu Post)

[Shanti Mama]

Obama: The choice of non-Americans
YUVRAJ ACHARYA

WASHINGTON DC, Oct 28 - This presidential poll slated for Nov. 4 appears to be different for Americans for two reasons. Whoever wins the elections will set a new record in U.S. history - it will either have a black president or a woman vice-president. And whoever wins will encounter the challenge of bailing the country out of the great economic crisis from the very day he assumes office.

The U.S. elections, however, is news not just for Americans.

"What country will Obama visit first if he is elected president?" Chinese journalist Liang Jianfeng asked Thomas Mann, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a Democratic Congressman for 14 years.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has been a clear favourite among non-Americans.

Indian journalists wondered whether Obama would keep the promise he made on outsourcing. Thai and Mexican journalists were more concerned about Obama's remarks in favour of reviewing free-trade agreement; and journalists from the Balkans were curious about what the new president's position on NATO's expansion plan to Eastern Europe would be.

Whether they are under-developed countries like Rwanda or Burundi or the largest trading partner like China, all have deep concerns--who will be the next president and what changes will he bring about in U.S. engagement with their respective countries.

But it is journalists from Arab and Islamic countries who seem most troubled.

"Is Obama committed to pull troops out of Iraq as pledged?" asked Moroccan journalist Ahmed Reda Benchemsi.

All agreed that people outside the U.S. want Obama to win. It is simply because most of the outside world believes that his focus will be on diplomacy rather than use of force as a way to resolve conflicts, according to a group of journalists who are visiting the U.S. for elections.

Most polls show Obama leading the Republican candidate John McCain by wide margins. According to the latest CNN polls, his lead is 8 percentage points. But some analysts suggest that the polls could still mask such prejudices as racial bias, which could whittle Obama's poll lead in the secret ballot.

Both the candidates are struggling hard in battleground states- Florida , Virginia , Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania. CNN, however, mentioned Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania as the only battleground states.

http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=165006

[BumRushDaShow]

1. ???

Both the candidates are struggling hard in battleground states- Florida , Virginia , Ohio, Colorado and Pennsylvania. CNN, however, mentioned Florida, Nevada, Ohio and Pennsylvania as the only battleground states.

There is no "struggle" in PA for Obama. It's his, it was Kerry's, it was Gore's and it was Clinton's (both times).

[Doctor_J]

2. Poor headline. Should read "Obama - The choice of the world"

Republican leaning headline writer