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Published on February 6, 2008

The chair of Democrats Abroad Thailand, Phil Robert-son said this was the first time Democrat Primaries were happening in 34 countries across the globe, as well as over the Internet, and he expected a couple of hundred voters of all ages to come from all around the region to vote here in Bangkok.

"When I talk to friends of mine who aren't American they all say, 'You guys should be more careful about who you elect'. I think people who live overseas are broad-minded and have an important voice, so I think I have a duty to make sure that voice is heard," he said.

Greg Auberry, 45, and wife Veronica Suozzi, 46, have lived abroad for many years, and have spent the last four in Hanoi. They brought their two young children all the way from Vietnam for their first taste of democracy. "This is our democratic moment and they're so excited about it. We came to shop for groceries and we're also shopping for a presidential candidate!" Auberry said.

After much consideration, Auberry said he had decided to vote for Hillary Clinton.

"I think Obama's a much more exciting candidate, but I think in the long term Hillary will know how to govern in Washington. I think he [Obama] needs to earn his stripes. The economy, Iraq, there's too many variables for me to vote for him," he said.

However, Dr Jeffrey Wachtel and Dr Donald Persons were clear Obama fans.

Dr Wachtel, a leadership advisor, is from Florida and has lived in Thailand since 2001. He met, and almost found himself working for, George W Bush Jr before he was elected president. This year he voted in his state primary and had a last minute change of heart on his preference.

"I voted for Hillary and closed the envelope up. Then I saw the Iowa results and saw Obama had won. Barack showed all the signs of what we want in a leader. To me, he seems the No 1 candidate with the ability to lead," he said.

"That swayed me away from what was practical to what I thought was best for our country."

His friend Dr Persons, who has lived in Thailand since 1984, and attended Obama's church in Chicago, agreed.

"Barack has young people excited. She [Clinton] won't mobilise the people," he said.

Dr Persons said worry over his inexperience was irrelevant.

"The bureaucracy tells them what they do and what they don't do. He's not alone, they will guide him. It'll be great for America, for the world," he said.

Elizabeth Gray Boname, originally from Texas, has lived in Thailand for almost a year with her husband and two young children. She said she was saddened by the change in foreigners' views of Americans over the past decade.

"As someone whose lived overseas since 1993, it's enormously sad for me as an American, to see how much the perception of our country has changed."

She said Obama was her preferred candidate because he was so refreshing.

"For the first time in a long time I actually am excited for who is going to be our next president. I think he's an exciting candidate, someone who signals more change," she said.

Chris Kimble, Chair of Republicans Abroad Thailand, was the lone Republican in attendance. He said he was working on forging ties between the two groups, and though Republicans living abroad cannot physically come to vote as Democrats can, he and his colleagues had worked hard to encourage people to vote in their home state ballot.

"We try to educate Americans on how to vote overseas. The biggest thing is to let Repub-licans know they can vote and how they can vote," he said.

Both parties agreed on one thing: the presidential race is set to be a close and exciting one.

Democrat supporters currently residing outside of the US who didn't have a chance to vote today, can do so in Bangkok on Saturday and at other regional centres over the next few days.

See www.democrats-abroad.org for details.

Lily Partland

The Nation