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Journalism of Courage
It just wasn’t John McCain’s day. The Republican even got routed in a mock election in Delhi, held at the American Center
It appears that President Barack Obama would have swept the polls even in Delhi; at a mock election held in the Capital’s American Center where 500-plus people had gathered to watch the results of the US elections, two mock voting machines were set up in the foyer. Obama won 357 votes against McCain who garnered just 22 supporters among the Delhi crowd who included US embassy officials, Americans living in the city, and students.
The American Centre was decorated with blue, red and white balloons and campaign posters of both the Presidential hopefuls. At 8 am sharp, the crowd started gathering in the lawns. Nine screens were put up in the basement auditorium, showcasing the latest election updates. A lavish breakfast of croissants, muffins and a variety of cheeses was laid out and people milled around discussing Obama’s victory over coffee. This year, there was a 300 percent uptake in absentee votes cast in New Delhi as compared to 2004, Information Officer Elizabeth N Fitzsimmons informed the media.
40-something Ellen Schwartz, an American based in Delhi says she’s not surprised at Obama’s landslide victory. “He has motivated a younger generation to be actively involved in building the nation,” she says. Schwartz’s 23-year-old son Aaron, studying at the University of Wisconsin worked on Obama’s campaign. Schwartz who has been in and out of United States says she never missed a election. Jamie Kaplan, working in Practice, a PR firm in Delhi shared, “Obama’s win is a nice reflection of the changing times”. A native of Washington, Kaplan cast her absentee vote for the first time from Delhi. On the absentee vote casting system, Michael Macy, Counselor for Cultural Affairs said, “The absentee casting system is very active. First of all, you have to register in your native district to request an absentee ballot. You can cast it via Internet or mail”. Now, there’s been a fitting end to a new political era.
