Britons Sound Off On U.S. Election
The 2008 presidential race is on the minds of many Americans. But for an election this big, is the rest of the world paying any attention? Some in London say they find the presidential election cycle too long, while others call the process confusing.
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MICHELE NORRIS, host:
With President Bush soon heading home to Texas, people across the world are turning their attention to the presidential candidates. Our contributor Mo Rocca was out on the streets of London recently, sampling opinion about John McCain, Barack Obama and the U.S. presidential race.
MO ROCCA: The process by which candidates are nominated in the United States, the caucuses and the primaries, do you find that confusing?
Mr. TONY PERRY: Extremely confusing. I'm just glad we don't have it here. I'd just lose track. No doubt, there are people who specialize in politics, but the average man in the street like me, I doubt it.
ROCCA: Give it a go. What is a difference between a caucus and primary?
Mr. PERRY: I have no idea.
ROCCA: You know, I believe that the vast majority of Americans have no idea, either.
Do you have any impression of Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate?
Mr. PAUL ASBURY: I think we all thought he was the manufacturer of French fries to start with over here.
(Soundbite of laughter)
ROCCA: So you plan on voting for Obama.
Ms. VANESSA COURTIER(ph): Yes.
(Soundbite of laughter)
Ms. COURTIER: If I could.
(Soundbite of laughter)
ROCCA: Do you think you should be able to? I mean, it does sort of have global implications.
Ms. COURTIER: No. I think I've got enough on my plate.
ROCCA: What kind of a running mate should Barack Obama select?
Mr. TOM HOLLAND: John Edwards, I think, would probably be the most ideal running mate for him. And also, he's Southern, so he'd probably pick up help in some of the Southern states.
ROCCA: And do you know how you're voting for?
Mr. HOLLAND: I can't vote, obviously, but...
ROCCA: Well, I mean, you know a lot, so I think maybe you should.
(Soundbite of laughter)
ROCCA: And the selection of running mates, how important will that be?
Mr. DOUG PATTERSON: Well, your election goes on so long, doesn't it? It's like a kind of three-legged horse, you know? It just goes on and on and on. So you lose track of who's leading who.
ROCCA: It's kind of like a reality show.
Mr. PATTERSON: It is reality show, yeah. It's a kind of good old soap, isn't it? Yeah.
ROCCA: A really long one.
Mr. PATTERSON: A really long soap, yeah.
NORRIS: We heard there from Londoners Tony Perry, Paul Asbury, Vanessa Courtier, Tom Holland and Doug Patterson. They were all talking about the U.S. presidential race with our contributor, Mo Rocca.
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