America Decides: The World Awaits

Despite its status as the most covered elections in the world, the US Presidential elections, remain one of the most complex and difficult to understand by many media professionals and their audiences. But their interests remain high.

This week I met with the US Ambassador to Seychelles, Cesar Cabrera who was in the country to meet with representatives of the local media to discuss the very issue.

The US 2008 Presidential elections irrespective of its outcome will be a historic one and the whole world is watching closely. The 44^th US Head of State could either be the first woman President, the first African American president or the oldest person to be elected in office since Ronald Reagan in 1980.

These are the reasons why this election is creating so much attention the world over including here. The rivalry between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama also is such a competitive race, that many observers are waiting to see how the Democratic Party will unify come November.

Ambassador Cabrera believes as one of the world’s newest democracy, Seychelles have a lot to learn from these processes.

“You can have a lot to learn from the way we behave. America symbolises equality, diversity and freedom.” He volunteered the opinion during the round table discussion organised for the local media at the Northholme Hotel, to discuss the US elections.

Ambassador Cabrera answered questions from journalists, with the notable absent of SBC, about the candidates’ passion to serve the people and help their communities, vote apathy in the US and the issue of showing political affiliations at the workplace in the US.

But the big debate, which I initiated centered on the Electoral College system, which technically stop the Americans from directly electing their president and vice president. Compare to a small democracy like ours, where the head of state is elected by nationwide popular vote, the American have opted for a compromise to protect smaller states like Iowa and South Carolina from bigger ones like Texas and New York.

However, there is now a growing movement in the US questioning the modern day relevance of the Electoral College system. But to change it, there needs to be the support of two third of all the states. A feat deemed impossible, according to Ambassador Cabrera, since the smaller states are poised to reject such proposal.

As the world awaits and the media continue to intrigue the US political scene followers, people in the United States and around the world seem to be ready for change. Whatever the outcome - there is no question that the fascination with the U.S. presidential elections will continue.