Editorial: US election casting far and wide

It is amazing how the US elections have captivated so many of us.

It has been the subject of many a water cooler conversation, even right here in Hawke's Bay.

We all have an opinion, probably because there is such blanket coverage on television and the internet.

Also, in this global village we live in, the outcome of such an important election has a bearing on all our lives in some way or another.

It has been fascinating watch, because it is so close.

Even now most opinion polls are saying there is nothing to choose between incumbent President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

We should start getting an idea of how things are going this evening.

Many of us are scratching our heads at the tightness of the race, because one gets the feeling that if the rest of the world was voting, it would be Obama by a landslide. But this is America we are talking about and unfortunately the tough stance Obama has taken on certain issues has alienated him from many Americans, thus allowing Romney into the race.

When the Republican Party was choosing its candidate, I must say that I did not think Romney stood a chance. Yet here he stands, on the eve of the election with a chance of toppling an incumbent president. For fair and balanced coverage (not) I occasionally watch Fox News and it never ceases to amaze me how they can twist even the smallest thing to show Obama in a bad light.

The presenters, who always have names like Greta or Carl, are always hellbent on showing him as an evil socialist. Even the Obamacare health policy, which is quite mild by our standards, is made out to this terrible socialist trap that will lump the American taxpayer with such a heavy burden. It is difficult for us in New Zealand to identify with this stance because even our more conservative political parties would be deemed to be socialist by American standards.

Yes, things are certainly different in America and for the next few days there will only be one show in town.

America will get the president it deserves.