A Very Super Tuesday

Don't let this post's title fool you; my Super Tuesday reference is not in regards to an encouraging performance of my preferred candidate (who fared poorly by my estimations). What I intend to discuss, however, is the European and specifically British fascination with the American primary process. From what I've been told, while the general election will garner its share of attention, its the respective Democratic and Republican primaries that generate the most fascination. Don't take my word for it, though. Just ask the BBC.
Part of my Intercultural Communication class assignments was to visit the BBC and a great majority of us did that on Tuesday. Now Tuesday was also the date of the now infamous Super Tuesday in which a large percentage of delegates for the Republican and Democratic conventions were up for grabs by the various candidates. The BBC news center was buzzing with reports coming in from across the United States and England. It seemed everyone had an opinion on who was going to win and why they should, though many (American and Brit alike) lacked a full grasp on how the whole process operated. And who could blame them? As one British columnist asked in a business section of a London paper, "I dare anyone to try and tell me how it really works." Certainly a fair question considering the changes this year's process has undergone. No longer are the three states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina largely deciding who the nominee will be. Now, even states like *gasp* Connecticut are attracting crucial visits from the candidates (which sadly I missed as I'm overseas).
But a general lack of understanding doesn't prevent the British populace from enjoying our electoral squabbles, nor should it. Perhaps the names "Super Tuesday" or "Tsunami Tuesday" as some people have redubbed it are too catchy to ignore. The idea of becoming the leader of the free world with almost a Monopoly board game approach can be quite amusing and certainly odd from the perspective of the Brits. Not that their government makes any more sense. But its definitely noticeable how the tabloid press here is using this primary to churn headlines. The first day I walked off the plane, newspaper headlines screamed "Hillary Wins in Primary Shocker" after the New Hampshire primary. Now I'm not sure anyone was "shocked" by her victory stateside, given the fact she poured tremendous amounts of resources into it and at one point was the definite Democratic front runner. But the American presidential race is still enough fodder for the occasional Englishman to scoff, "Those crazy Yanks."
I've taken a keen interest in this, well, British interest in American politics as it strikes me as remarkably unique. I guess I wasn't expecting much hoopla about what the good people of Nevada thought about politics, but I was wrong. At pubs, whenever a local here's my "American accent" (which I still maintain is just the absence of an English accent), the natural response is "Eh, you're American, yeah? What do ya think about the election?" Always pleasantly and curiously, never a demeaning tone. But still there's the palpable hint of "...and don't you think the whole process is batty" about to roll off the tongue before the questioner checks themself.
Personally, I agree with the sentiment that it's become more of a spectacle than a very solemn, sacred, civic duty that it should be or at least was intended. That's why I'm personally for a national primary where we get on with it in one day- like peeling off a band-aid. Bam! It's done. Nevermind this whole process that seems to have gone on since President Bush won reelection in 2004. At the very least we won't be scoffed at abroad.
So when British talkshow host Alan Titchmarsh rhetorically asked on the trailer for his Super Tuesday show, "Just why do us Brits care so much about the American election and Super Tuesday?" the answer seemed clear to me. It is fascinating, it's become world wide entertainment. But is that what we want? Perhaps a nice boring primary and a civil electoral system would put a dent in CNN ratings and throw many a pundit out on the street. Seems like a fine trade-off to me. Then again, I have a much better time explaining politics at a pub than all the rules of baseball. Bah, let's keep it the way it is then.
Here's to you, Super Tuesday! Keeping the world entertained one BBC broadcast at a time.