Czech-based Republicans and Democrats Abroad discuss fast approaching US presidential election

In almost exactly a month’s time, US voters go to the polls in one of the most keenly watched presidential elections in decades. There are an estimated six million Americans living outside the US and – with the two main candidates very close in the polls – their votes could well have an impact on November 4th. To get a flavour of how things look to US voters in this part of the world, I met up with Roger Johnson, chairman of Republicans Abroad in the Czech Republic, and Creag Hayes, chairman of Democrats Abroad in the Czech Republic.

Barack Obama, photo: CTK

They say there’ll be an increase in overseas votes at this election. Why is that do you think, and if it happens which candidate will it benefit?

Johnson: “I think there’s a great deal of interest in this election. More and more young people are now becoming involved in the political process and I think that’s very important, I think it’s a great thing to see. One way or the other it’s going to be a very close election. I think because of the increased interest of very young voters, first-time voters, unfortunately I have to say that will probably benefit Barack Obama. But I still think John McCain has an excellent chance.’

Hayes: “In addition to what Roger has said, I think one of the things that has made the registration from abroad so much stronger this year is that it’s easier. People can do it online, at least obtain the information that they need to fill in the forms, guide themselves through it and hopefully not make any mistakes.”

How do the candidates reach and attract the vote of Americans overseas?

Hayes: “Actually, that’s something that’s new. I don’t know about McCain’s campaign, but certainly Obama does. Obama has an Americans Abroad for Obama website. They have people who have contacted me to see what we can do to work with them.”

John McCain, photo: CTK

Johnson: “It’s similar for the Republican side. Thanks to the internet and emails, there’s quite a good network of information that we’re getting, up to date, from the candidates and the campaigns. But our primary purpose as Republicans Abroad, and I think it’s similar for the Democrats, is to register voters, to get the vote out.”

Do the concerns of voters overseas reflect the concerns of voters in the States, or would you have different concerns?

Johnson: “One concern that Americans abroad in general have, whatever their flavour may be, is the taxation of Americans abroad. We have the unique distinction…I think the only other country is one of the African countries like Burundi, I believe, that taxes their citizens when they don’t earn within the state itself. And we’re required to submit our tax returns every year. It’s also become more complicated and expensive for Americans living abroad in the last two years, with changes to the tax code.”

Would Americans overseas be more concerned with foreign policy?

Hayes: “I would say so. It seems to me that Americans living abroad are out from under the umbrella of the near hypnotic effect of US media. Few people here watch Fox News…it seems to me that they’re almost entirely different in their thinking. When I meet somebody who’s on a visit here from the US, I feel like I’m talking to somebody who’s swooped in from another planet. They don’t seem to have the same sort of priorities or concerns that I do, and that other Americans living abroad I know share here. So there does seem to be a different point of view.”

Photo: CTK

Johnson: “Especially in the last week we’ve seen this continued crisis in the financial community, on Wall St and the credit crisis…I do think we Americans have to take a leadership role in the world and to also take action and realise it’s not just Wall St and Main St, it’s also the Champs Elysees and Wenceslas Square and many other important main cities in the world that are also affected by what happens in the US economy.”

Finally, it’s an extremely exciting race, it’s very, very close – regardless of your party affiliations, if I was to give you ten thousand dollars to bet on the outcome, who would you bet on to win?

Johnson: “With your ten thousand dollars I’d be very happy to back John McCain. But also with my own ten I’d be very happy to back John McCain. I think he’s in an excellent position to win, but it’ll be a tough one – it’s going to be another squeaker this year.”

Hayes: “I guess you wouldn’t be surprised that I would see it from the other side (laughs) – although I would be nervous about betting my own ten thousands (laughs). It’s going to be a very close election, I think. There is a couple of debates yet to come up, and maybe that will shed more light on how people see the election, as we get closer to November 4.”