US Election Captivates Iran

Though isolated and remote, Iran is understandably interested in the outcome of the US presidential election. Iranian papers are covering every aspect, publishing extensive biographies and transcripts of the debates. Opinions run the gamut, but one consensus seems to be that it doesn't matter who wins because the US has a preordained anti-Iran policy, with Israel to blame. MSNBC hit the streets to take the temperature.

The perceptions of John McCain as a hard-liner and Barack Obama as a cool-headed citizen of the world are in place. One McCain supporter thought only he could bring change to the Iranian regime. A right-wing journalist backed McCain because he figured the world wouldn't support a McCain strike on Iran but it would support an Obama strike. One professor praised Obama as “not totally American,” adding incorrectly, “he even has family ties with Iran." (More Election 2008 stories.)