Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Super Tuesday

The first votes cast in today's rush of primary elections in the United States will be cast here, in Thailand, and in other western Pacific and Asian nations ..... actually, some have already been cast.

According to
this report in the Bangkok Post, "Americans eager to select candidates for their next president trooped to the polls on Tuesday morning - in Thailand. About 1,500 US expats were likely to vote at early primary polls in Thailand today. Because of the time difference, they will be voting 12 hours or more ahead of their compatriots in the United States."

The report goes on to note the special interest in the Democratic race for the neighboring Pacific nation of Indonesia, where Democrats are, "enthused by the idea that one of the leading candidates, Barack Obama, lived in Jakarta from the age of 6 to 10. 'There is a bit of rooting for the hometown boy,' said Tristram Perry, the public diplomacy officer at the US Embassy in Jakarta, as more than 100 voters began gathering at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in the bustling capital. 'It is the first time someone who grew up in Indonesia is running for president.' An early tally at the hotel gave Obama a resounding 75% of the votes to 25% for Hillary Clinton."

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