Wilson Johwa
28 February 2008
Johannesburg — THOUGH few in number, SA-based Americans are among the thousands of US expatriates giving Democratic hopeful Barack Obama the lead in his bid for the party's presidential nomination.
Obama has emerged as the clear favourite among Democrats living outside the US.
Results of the global primary -- allowing US Democrats spread across the world to vote online for the first time -- show Obama having received twice as much support as fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Of the 23000 international ballots, 65,6% went to Obama and 32,7% to Clinton. In SA, 77 Americans participated in the Democratic primaries, with 83,3% voting for Obama and 10,7% for Clinton.
Courtney Priester, chairman of Democrats Abroad in SA, said: "This means the Americans who have the most international experience and exposure feel Obama would be the best candidate to represent global interests."
The full results determine the allocation of 4,5 delegate votes at the Democratic national convention in August. Obama won 2,5 delegate votes and former first lady Clinton two delegate votes. A further 2,5 votes will be determined at the Democrats Abroad global convention in April.
In addition, Democrats Abroad -- which is referred as the 51st US state -- holds a four super delegate vote.
The Democrats Abroad global primary was conducted early this month with balloting taking place at voting centres in more than 30 countries by mail, fax and, for the first time on the internet, through a secure online system. Online ballots were cast across the world, from Antarctica to Zambia.
The US presidential election will take place on November 4.
To vote in the election, overseas voters must request a ballot from local voting authorities in the place where they last resided in the US. An estimated 6-million Americans live outside the US.
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The TABLOID media (there are no true news stations anymore) are absolutely shameful and ridiculous! She inst whining, she is telling the truth something new to corrupt racist Obama and the media, she is doing WHAT HER SUPPORTERS ARE INSISTING SHE DO, STAND UP! Especially like she did to that bone head Tim Russet. They attack EVERYTHING she does! If she laughs, or tears up because she is HUMAN and touched by a supporters story, if she allows attacks, she weak, if she fights back, she a bitch????? God forbid someone tells the truth about the bogus weak inexperienced racist… [Read Full Text]