In the two weeks leading up to the much-anticipated U.S. presidential election, many local American citizens are eagerly waiting for the results.
Dozens of people packed a local pub last week to watch the third and final presidential debate between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton, moderated by Fox News anchor and political commentator Chris Wallace in Las Vegas.
The debate offered the final chance for the two party candidates to spar over six pre-set topics, including the economy, the Supreme Court, immigration, foreign hot spots, debt and whether they thought they were fit to be president of the country.
Many analysts claimed Clinton had been the winner following the hour-and-a-half-long debate, being aggressive on domestic policy issues and having a clear stance on substantive policy, particularly on Iraq and Russia, said CNN analysts.
Many Victorians agreed.
Giles Hogya, who has lived in Victoria for the past 44 years but has dual citizenship, said Clinton was the “clear” winner in all three debates over Trump, who has become known for his lewd comments on women and wanting to build a wall to keep Mexicans out of the U.S.
“She showed that she’s prepared to be the next president of the United States,” said Hogya, chair of the Democrats Abroad Victoria chapter and Democrats Abroad Canada. “It’s going to be a landslide electoral win . . . (Trump) is ill-fitted to become president.”
American Sandra Jones, who lives in Colwood, is also excited to potentially welcome the first female president to the White House.
“I’m so excited . . . everything is pointing to a Hilary Clinton presidency,” said Jones, adding Clinton has an impressive record of accomplishments relating to Americans with disabilities, women and children.
“Let’s face it — a woman, yeah, she’s a change. After 240 years, you can’t say she’s more of the same. It’s an absolutely wonderful thing. I honestly believe a Hilary Clinton presidency will be good, not just to make American stronger, but the world too. She’s sane and she’s capable.”
Since the debate, Trump said he will only accept the results of the presidential election if he wins, a claim that Hogya calls totally undemocratic and “verges on the United States being more of a banana republic than a beacon of democracy.”
According to an ABC News tracking poll released on Sunday, Clinton has a 12-point lead over Trump, with 50 per cent support, compared to Trump’s 38 per cent, followed by Libertarian Gary Johnson at five per cent and Green Party’s Jill Stein at two per cent support.
The U.S. election takes place on Nov. 8.
Victorians who hold dual citizenships are still eligible to vote and can cast an absentee ballot at votefromabroad.org.