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Tourists cheer Obama's historical win
Around 30 people gathered at Sector Bar in Sanur on Wednesday morning to watch the U
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Around 30 people gathered at Sector Bar in Sanur on Wednesday morning to watch the U.S. presidential election results on the CNN television channel. Every time presidential hopeful Barack Obama won the majority vote in a state, the crowd applauded wildly.
When it was finally reported that the 47-year-old Illinois senator had won the election and become president, all the guests jumped to their feet and cheered excitedly.
The thrilling euphoria did not extend only to U.S. tourists, with other foreigners and locals observing the historical election with the same enthusiasm.
"I especially came here to watch the updated news because this election is very interesting," Kaye Raven, an Australian, said.
"I think Obama is a very different person from the unpopular George W. Bush. His victory gives hope, not only to Americans but also the rest of the world," she said.
She said the president-elect would be able to change the face of America and restore it to the respected status it once held.
American tourist Tom Shadle said the African-American senator had become his presidential hopeful throughout the election.
"To me, everything he says during the campaign and debates, what he says, makes sense. They are about things you agree with. I hope he will have success in America and bring it into partnerships with other countries," he said.
The resident from San Diego, California, said this year's presidential election attracted many Americans.
"Many people today are so excited about Obama. They were not that excited when candidates were running in the previous election," he said.
Shadle said Obama's selling point over rival John McCain was that he has had wider experiences with other cultures, providing him with a greater understanding of international perspectives.
"It will be hard to improve the economic condition in America. But I believe he will try to make it better for people in general, rather than only helping the top businessmen," he said.
