More Trouble For Transatlantic Relations?

[Nicholas_J]

by James Blitz

October 05, 2004

and Quentin
Peel



Seldom has a US presidential election
campaignbeen watched from the
opposite side of the Atlanticwith so much
grim fascination and nervousanticipation
as the present contest between George
W. Bush and John Kerry.
Seldom, too, have Europeans been quite
so partisanin their support for one
candidate. In one opinion pollafter
another, it is clear that Mr Kerry is
Europe'soverwhelming favourite.
. In
Germany, nearly 80 percent of the
electorate prefer the Democratic
contenderto Mr Bush. In France, only 5
percent back theincumbent. Even in the
UK, where Tony Blair hasbeen such a
loyal ally, the margin is 47 per cent to 16
per cent in favour of Mr Bush's challenger,
accordingto a recent GlobeScan poll.
"There is this very widespread sense that
anythingthat will punish Bush is good for
humanity," saysFrancois Heisbourg,
director of the Foundation forStrategic
Research in Paris. "That keeps the
interestalive."


http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=74&ItemID=6355