REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – US elections seems always draw attention curiosity not only from American citizens, but also people from every corner of the world, including Indonesians. Then today marks the Super Tuesday in US or Wenesday morning in Indonesia.
US embassy in Jakarta holds a live coverage of the US Super Tuesday primary elections in @america, the high tech cultural center owned by US embassy. Three panelists who presented topics on US elections were a senior journalist from Reuters, Matthew Bigg; a former campaign staff on Barack Obama candidacy in 2008; and Information Resource Office at US Embassy in Jakarta, Myra Michele Brown.
The US Ambassador to Indonesia, Scot Marciel, attends the event. Some students from major universities in Indonesia are also invited. The host, Jason Rebholz, explains what Super Tuesday is to the audience.
Rebholz explains that there are three key states on Super Tuesday this year. They are Ohio, Virginia, and Georgia. Ohio is crucial because what happen in Ohio can affect the election. “No president in US wins without winning Ohio,” he said. Georgia is important because it is Newt Gingrich’s hometown.
Bigg, added, “Georgia is a big test for Romney because it is conservative.” The journalist who covered nine elections in different countries shared his view particularly when he reported US election in 2008. He said, Obama could win the elections because he took the benefits of social media.
His presentation was interrupted due to the live speech from GOP presidential front-runner Mitt Romney in Boston. Romney wins Virginia, Vermont, and Massachusetts. During 15-minutes speech in his campaign headquarters at Boston, Massachusetts, he criticized Obama several times.
“To the millions of Americans who look around and can only see jobs they can’t get and bills they can’t pay, I have a message. You have not failed. You have a president who has failed you,” he said referring to Obama.
In 2008 election, Obawa won in Ohio, which is known as the swing state. Curtis Johnson then told the audience about how Obama won in Ohio. Ohio is one of the key states in presidential election.
Johnson repeated that no US president won without winning Ohio. Ohio is a battleground or swing state because it has high population, 20 electoral votes, and microcosm of America.
“Volunteers are the most important of a campaign because they are free labor, fanatical, and willing to go above and beyond the call of duty. Their story is also important,” he explained.
Johnson added, American Muslims showed great support during the 2008 elections. Generally, all Americans have the responsibility to vote in presidential election.
“American Muslims are also highly participated,” he said. “No matter what is their background, if you are American, you vote,” he said.
The last panelist, Myra Brown, explained about the voting blocs. In US presidential politics, voting blocs, a group of voters that have specific common concern that cause them vote together in the elections, are very important. Brown mentions some voting blocs that are important. Some of them are Latinos/hispanics, female voters, and Asian Americans.
Meanwhile, the Latinos vote are also affected the election in some way. Brown gives the example of how Latinos affect the election. “In 2004, former President George W Bush won more than 40 percent of the Latino vote,” she said. But, four years later, Barack Obama won 67 percent of Latino voter. “Expert says anybody getting that kind of support from Latinos in 2012, whether Democrat or Republic, has a good chance of winning the presidency,” she said.
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