US election 08

From India to Cuba, what the world hopes for from Obama

Sophie Team Observers — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:51:38 +0100

Pushkar in Rajasthan, India. Photo posted by Aricwithana

Whether it's the end of an embargo or fairer distribution of wealth, most of our Observers, from Havana to Tehran, are hoping for something from Barack Obama.

US 08: rich pickings for political communication

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:21:26 +0100

This year's race to the White House has seen the most aggressive and expensive election campaigns in history, with video clips taking shape as the best weapons.

Egged on by each other, it was soon established that the initial frontrunners (Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney) would be fighting their causes, and criticising those of their opponents, by summoning up topical, funny, and convincing video clips in record times. Largely distributed online, the clips became an all-encompassing means of persuasion for candidates desperate to get into the White House. If you think John McCain's 320 videos is a lot, it's nothing on Barack Obama's 1820. So it's no wonder that despite over 18 months of bombardment, we're still discovering some gems in the catfight treasure trove. Here's our selection of the best...

Election eve: the world holds its breath

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:36:04 +0100

Posted on Flickr by "The Sun and Doves".

The world's biggest show is kicking off. Never before has a US presidential election been so closely followed from all corners of the world. Our Observers from Beijing to Baghdad tell us what they'll be doing when we find out who will lead the world's superpower.

Send us your photos and videos of election night around the world.

Obama vs. McCain in video games

Ed Mazza — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 19:16:01 +0100

By now, most people following the US election know that Democratic candidate Barack Obama purchased ads inside video games last month. But what if the election itself was taking place inside the world of gamers?

Comic Rich Kuras went into the World of Warcraft for the website Machinima to find out how the campaign is playing out in the imaginary realm of Azeroth:

As Kuras points out, Warcraft's 11 million players would make Azeroth larger than 42 states, population-wise. But so far, no candidate has been accused of pandering to trolls, orcs or elves.

Similarly, digital versions of Obama and Sarah Palin are being worked into the rough and tough game world of "Mercenaries 2: World in Flames." Check out what happens when the candidates really "go rogue:"

Oddly enough, the one candidate with actual combat experience - John McCain - appears to have been left out of this battle.

Faulty voting machines pick the wrong candidate

Sophie Team Observers — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:36:58 +0100

Early voters for the presidential election have reported that when they tried to vote for one candidate, their touch screen machine selected another. Could these "faulty" machines decide who's the next US president?

After the vote counting fiasco in Florida in 2000, US polling stations were ordered to update their systems to avoid inaccuracies under the Help America Vote Act 2002. But six years and $3 billion dollars later, new touch screen machines, used in around a quarter of polling booths, are causing even more trouble than the old hole-punchers.

This year has seen record numbers of early voters, expected to amount to a third of the total electorate, who choose to make their decision before the 4 November deadline. But in West Virginia, where the booths opened on 23 October, voters have emerged from polling stations complaining that the machine didn't respond to the choice they made, but selected another. Whether the machines are being rigged; or defective technology is at fault, Americans are terrified that after eight months of decision making, their vote will go to the wrong candidate. Campaigners for democracy are spreading the message: check your screen to make sure you've voted for the right person.

Voting for the glory of Satan?

Ed Mazza — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:51:53 +0100

So why do people vote? As one new tongue-in-cheek ad suggests, it could be for the glory of Satan. Or maybe to stop same-sex arrangements among hogs.

A nonpartisan ad aimed at getting voters in North Carolina to vote has become the latest viral hit of the presidential campaign.

According to the News and Observer, the ad was made by Scott Jacobson, who used to work for news satire show "The Daily Show," and Dave Willis, co-creator of the oddball cartoon "Aqua Teen Hunger Force."

The point of the ad is to make sure you vote, if only to cancel out your weird neighbors.

The candidates are also of course using ads to make their closing arguments as we head into the final weekend.

John McCain's Republican National Committee is now sending out this ad:

And Barack Obama wants to make sure voters are reminded of George W. Bush when they think of John McCain:

Africa on Obama: "He's black, not African"

Team Observers — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 12:26:15 +0100

Barack and Sarah Hussein Obama, his grandmother. Photo posted on Flickr.

Obama's roots won't go forgotten. And especially not in Africa. Our Observers all over the continent share their excitement and hope, but also their doubt that there will be any change for Africa if the black candidate is elected.

Never before has an African-American candidate come so close to presidency in the US. According to the latest polls, published by Reuters/Zogby on Monday, Obama is ahead of his competitor in five of the eight crucial swing states, including Ohio - the one that tipped the election for George Bush in 2004.

Just a week before the big day, we asked our Observers in Africa what Obama's success means for them.

Biden explains his future job to children

Sophie Team Observers — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 16:45:46 +0100

In a video for his classmates, a 10-year-old schoolboy interviewed Joe Biden about the job of vice-president. Happy with the Democrat's response, fifth-grader Damon Weaver exclaims "Senator Biden is now my homeboy!"

The video was filmed in Palm Beach County (Florida) early September, shortly after Joe Biden was selected as running mate for Barack Obama. He was interviewed by the local pupil as part of the school's home-grown coverage of the election, complete with student reporter and cameraman.

Obama, lottery star in Colombia

Sophie Team Observers — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:55:04 +0100

Sebastien Longhurst, one of our Observers in Bogota, sent us this photo of a lottery ticket with Barack Obama's face on it. His comment:

Last Thursday, the company that runs the lottery in the central Meta region of Colombia decided to do something new. For a change from the usual pictures of animals or iconic figures from the region, they chose to print thousands of tickets illustrated with a smiling portrait of Obama. 'We wanted to pay homage to African-Americans, explained lottery director Magdalena Gonzàlez in an interview with the international press. According to Gonzàlez, slightly more tickets were sold when they had Obama's face printed on them. The initiative is particularly symbolic in a country where around 10% of the population is Afro-Colombian. It's a poor community which lives along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and finds itself absent in political debate."

Ready for higher taxes?

Julien — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:07:23 +0200

Higher taxes or more tax cuts and who should bear the burden of this necessary evil? The one thing Barack Obama and John McCain differ widely on is tax policy. Obama wants more tax cuts for working families while McCain favours "pro-growth and competitive" taxes. We asked our Observers if they're willing to pay higher taxes?