I´m from Finland. It is pretty obvious because the United States is really the world power in economy and security. Film industry and media especially are very much influenced by the US. Everyone in the world are fans of the US and know the influence the country has. The funding system of the presidential election of the USA has really opened up possibilities for foreign countries to take part so why not? USA is also cool:)

I think it more to do with the globalisation effect. People are paying attention because the policies and programmes of whoever emerges the president of the superpower will affect the remotest corner of the globe. If a hawk emerge for example, "the war on terror" will be at full swing once again and that may not be good for the US economy. Therefore China will be very concerned because of the money owed it by the US. With a "reclusive" president, countries in dire need of US mentorship like Afghanistan, Israel and Libya, may be very uncomfortable. From Nigeria

They need to know the representatives' determination. There is also a fear that America might end up in ruin, As a super power ,has influenced in many international envents more especially political as away of fighting for democracy thus creating enemity amongest the oppositions all over the world who might be primed for the battle if they are not pleased with the results. Obama as a president has not yet finished his work of being an overal leader due to the events that are happening mostly in outside countries like the statement he made in Libya for the new regime of Abdel-Rahim Al-Keeb, he promised to stay in close coordination with the TNC and still, people have hope in his plans and support to the growing countries,Its wel known that ,every regime comes with its own new plans,Hence attracting the media attention for what will be the next after the elections? and how are they going to be? If its going to be anew regime, they will continue with the Obama's reforms or all will be in vain? What if the enemies combine their efforts? Nobody knows.Nabwowe Noeline, Uganda.

Vermont: A view from the inside... Pius odiaka speaks of an ideology that "all Americans are proud of." The misfortune in this is that, in fact, many Americans are not proud of this ideology, and in small, grassroots ways there are many that challenge that ideology. To many Americans George Bush has been reprehensible in so much, if not all, of what he's directed. The belief that the American system of democracy is the best in the world may or may not be true, and I doubt it is, but if this is the case, it say more about the other systems then our own. For many of us, those outside the pervasive American ideology, there is a true dread, maybe even fear, that the America we might wish for is not the America we have.
The depth to which the last seven years have taken us is beyond conception, and the weak among us know no other way than to believe as we have believed, to think we are the great democracy, the prop ourselves up on false ideology. This is no different than people of any nation desirous to believe their nation, their home, their life is the greatest it could be and are willing to ignore what challenges that view.
It should come as no surprise that the most contentious voices in America (and there are many) come from the universities, members of the media, the intellectuals, all of which, most likely, belong to the mere 17 percent that has ever left America and has considered it from the outside. Our blindness may be our own blindness, different from those around us, but a blindness just the same. I am one American that sees wealth through corruption, power through dominance and consumption to the point of destruction with no demonstrative self control nothing to be "proud of." After the overpowering push of the Christian Right and the "I am the decider" foreign policy of Bush, we, the true, the silenced, the overwhelmed America, look to Obama, have hope in Obama, that he may be the leader of reason and logic, and, most importantly, that he may demonstrate to the world that many American's are not the illiterate, bow-legged Texan that had taken the potential of an intelligent (and powerful) nation and reduced it to school-yard politics. In a way, for many of us, Obama represents an apology, an apology a long-time coming. And, of course, hope.

James P. Askew.

I am a Nigerian female journalist and woman activist. For us and I beleve many outside the US, the democrats are showing that the time to brak the minority is not strenght in politics jinx, has come. Whether Obama picks the ticket or Hilary Clinton, the Democrats are telling the world that any worthy candidate can rule no matter your sex orrace.

Hillary Clinton would be the first woman President in America and then Obama, be the first Black-skinned President. And USA is a country of wealth and powerful over world, I think so. Thank you.

Foreign media pay much attention to US presidential election, because the country has a very good democratic system. The 2008 Presidential election is very important for foreign media. We don't know whether the Republican Party will have a third term with another candidate. Since President George W. Bush is not going to be a candidate after ruling the USA for ten years. Nowadays, Bush's adminstration faces some big challenges like the reduction or withdrawal of US troops in Irak, the fight against terrorism throughout the world and economic issues. The November election might be a test for the Democratic Party, which has the majority at the Congress. The party certainly put an emphasis on the fact that Bush's administration failed to restaure security in Irak..., despite some big efforts made by the White House to establish democracy and peace in Irak and in other countries of the Gulf. Many of us considere USA as the most powerful nation in the world. So everything that happens in this country, is interesting to us. This nation helps contributes to the development of many States in the World like Mali (West Africa) throughUSAID, Peace Corps.... We appreciate the candidacy and the good scores of Barack O'Bama whose father is a Kenyan. It shows that there is no discrimination in the choice of candidates.

I think the main reason why media is focusing its attention to the United States is because of the two Democratic Party's contenders.Here,we have the first black to reach that level of campaign.In the Rev Jesse Jackson had reached where Barack Obama is now. Then we have Hillary Clinton,the first woman reach this level of campaign of trying to be the first woman first president of the only super power in the world. While Obama is hoping to become the first balck pre- sident of the most powerful country in the world.

The American election is attracting so much attention naturally because the country is widely viewed, even by its arch critics and enemies , as the leader of the world. It therefore follows that its election or anything it does will attract the attention of the world. That it is doing so is not strange and the fact that the party most in Africa would like to regain power is having two strong contender, this is bound to attract world wide interest. How the pendulum swings in another few months would further make the issues more relevant. First Black president or first woman president? Americans would really be the ones to determine this.

Yea! Bolaji Adepegba has the points. But then, there is nothing new in it all - it is the same American approach to issues of governance. America in the past three decades has sharpened its world view on governance. It sells its corporate manners, a seeming culture, let alone a political ideology that every American is proud of, to the whole world. There is no doubt that America has the best humanly acceptable form of government all over the world. It is only in America that the blind is a governor who is expected by the people to do well having done so as a deputy. Everyone is a potential star, the ‘American Dream’ is saying. This is the massage the global media is being urged to take to every corner of the world.

The unprecedented coverage of the US elections in advance, I think is due to a major media phenomenon which has ordained anything strange as news. The US is now confronted with a space between the devil and the deep blue sea Here is a country that has not had a woman in the White house before except as an addendum of a he-man - Mrs Clinton wants to change that (Strange) It is also a country where racial issue has dominated politics to the disadvantage of "persons of colour" for all of its history - Mr. Obama wants to change that (Strange) Much more importantly, the party they both represent seems to be gaining advantage not because of anything politically spectacular that it has done but simply because it is currently out of power and the one in power is making all the mistakes in the political book of other countries which can only watch with chagrin Which all these in place whichever way the elections turn out it will be a big surprise. In the media surprise is sweet...and is news Bolaji Adepegba, Nigeria

It's because of the Obama phenomenon. He has managed to unite humanity around the ideals of hope, tolerance and liberty.