By Jamie Wood, Sky's News At 10 executive producer, in Chicago

The American networks are in a Super Tuesday II frenzy.

Teams in every polling station, reporters with every candidate and post-vote parties streamed exclusively live on the net (honestly).

The only time it stops is for the ad breaks. And if you're watching the ads, you're being offered drugs.

In the space of five minutes, it's easy to become convinced you've got everything from a slight cold to a flesh-eating virus.

The drugs offer the ultimate cure with the ultimate gamble. Sure, they'll stop your runny nose but if you listen to the list of side effects, you find out that your legs might fall off.

The politics isn't so different.

Hillary Clinton grew up here in Park Ridge, Illinois. Barack Obama is the senator for Chicago. Two candidates, one area, two messages - Clinton pushing her mid-western wholesomeness, for Obama it's his work on the city's impoverished south side.

The claims are different but the offer's the same, a quick-fix cure for the people. Turn on, tune in and turn out at the polling booth.

In Britain people agonise about the side-effects - personality over politics, charisma over content. But while we're busy worrying and hesitantly talking of televised debates, America's getting on with it.

Everyone on this side of the Pond is hooked on this battle - they're getting record turnouts, and have managed to get the young interested in politics in a way that would make Westminster weep.

So maybe now's the time to pop the pill and take a chance.

A little political Viagra to cure our electoral dysfunction.

Comments

[Ayse 20 Mar 2008 09:13:55]

The london Mayoral election is the closest we're getting to a personality election since Blair beat the Conservatives (cannot even remember who was the Conservative Leader then).

[John Hyde 13 Mar 2008 13:59:38]

Gorgeous George for Prime Minister? That would be great. A politican who says what he thinks, isn`t a right-wing loon, stands up to the Yanks, doesn`t rant on about how the EU runs our lives, doesn`t rant on about how Scotland should be independent, appears on telly, every now and again, isn`t a two-faced warmonger, perfect for Prime Minister.

[Anonamus. Lim 12 Mar 2008 16:01:40]

Hell-No! We don't need an American style media circus! I think what this country really needs is an end to tri-party politics. After all, it seems as though the British public (or the "bewildered herd") are voting for 3 factions of the same party! Discussion operates within very narrow "mainstream" parameters. We need more George Galloways! Love him or Hate him, at least he has the guts to talk about the real issues! Galloway for President!

[Samantha Jones England 9 Mar 2008 01:34:27]

We are surrounded by traitors, that's why we don't have any enthusiasm for politics any more. We've been betrayed big time and i doubt we will get over it.
What happened to us this week proves to those of us who have been fighting against the corrupt/illegal EU that we are treated with utter contempt. Labour has proved that there is no such thing as democracy in the country that fought so hard, and died, for it. When the time comes i hope every last one of them pays for their betrayal, they've truly earned it.
RIP UK

[neither/niether 7 Mar 2008 12:02:59]

Politics here is boring, point scoring straight from a general election. If any opposition! was worth their salt and held whatever new goverment to count, for their pre election promises, politics here would be taken more seriously. The house of lords is a waste of time, we should have simular to the usa senate. Goverments would be more controled of money they have to spend. The select commitee has no teeth. We should be thinking more about first past the post system. More people would vote knowing their vote could make all the difference. The system at the moment causes apathy because many believe their vote won't matter because it is a particular party strong hold and will win antway. I haven't figs but I would think marginal seats have a bigger turn out because of that. The present goverment whoever that should be, would not need to manipulate the boundries for their own advantage. I have never thought of first past the post until the last election,when the party with less votes and came second won the election because it won more seats, I always thought it a Liberal sour grapes gimmick, but it must be right in a modern democracy.

[Robert, Scotland 7 Mar 2008 09:23:59]

I do not pretend to know the answer as to why there is a general apathy amongst the British Public when it comes to politics and to elections, local and national.
I can however list reasons for my dissatisfaction with the system, they are;
The gerrymandering of geographic boundaries on purely demographic grounds so that a political party is a shoo-in at an election.
The fact that this blatant distortion to suit first past the post candidates allows one political party a sizeable majority in Parliament with 38% of all votes cast whilst another may gain 41% of all votes cast and then has to be satisfied with at best a "hung" Parliament, is morally wrong.
The "whip" system, adopted by all Parties is an affront to democracy. People elect individuals to Parliament in the hope that they will influence the way they are Governed. This system tells the MPs' how they must vote, irrespective of how he or she thinks. It also guarantees the continual passing of badly formulated law(s).
Another objection is the career Politician, of whom there are far to many in Government now. Our elected representatives should have experienced the ups and downs of being an employee who has to deliver or be held accountable and possibly dismissed. To go to University learning all there is to know about life whilst propping up some wine-bar and studying books is no proper education or preparation for legislating how we all must live.
My last objection is to the amount of air time given to Politicians allowing them to condemn the bad press they receive, my experience in life is you make your own headlines, if you are good they are good and bad if you are not.

[Khalid 5 Mar 2008 17:49:26]

Thus far as UK politcis, we are in the [Middle Of the Road]whilst party funds dont allow for party funding, due of course to the enormous expense at the behest of the tax payer.
Any way, [Wheres your Mama Gone]?
PS:It must have been a hound of a night over pond!

[Sallie 5 Mar 2008 15:45:35]

Gee whiz, no one interested in politics? We realise it's not the exciting world of drug snorting, foul mouthed, amoral pop stars/models/actors, but it's a damn sight more important. Comments like thos from Mr Hyde only serve to illustrate the real lack of depth and character of the modern Brit.

[John Hyde 5 Mar 2008 13:05:18]

The reason no one in this country is interested in politics, is because there all the same. A bunch of selfcentred liars. If it`s not money, it`s some affair, being for something one minute, then being against it the next, thinking only of themselves, etc. And if you see the way, that Gordon Brown, David Cameron, and Nick Clegg, shout at each other, during prime minister`s question time, it`s terrifying to know that these people run our country. They act like a bunch of kids.Alex Salmond, and his "Give us independence." He talks as if Scotland,was a colony. And The Conservatives endless, and childish crusade, about how we should have a referendum on Europe, also turns people off politics. My dad told me, it was The Conservative party, was once pro-Europe, and that it was them who took us into Europe. Aren`t we part of the European continent though? Whenever a member of parliment is interviewed on SKY News, or any other news channel, there calling people. It`s childish. The one thing, however, which has turned people off politics, is of course, the Iraq War. I would like to see, Gordon Brown, on The Daily Show though. Jon Stewart, is brilliant.