The whole planet is obsessed with the U.S. presidential election - and the world's news media is poised to deliver the goods, subject to interpretation in more ways than one. It is one big cultural moment.
As of Monday more than 4,000 foreign journalists have been granted credentials to cover the campaign finale, according to State Department spokesman Keith Peterson.
"Interest is unprecedented," he said. "And every journalist is looking for their local angle. It's huge in Bangladesh. In France, 'Le Figaro' devoted five pages to the election. The Russians and Nigerians want to know how foreign policy will affect them, the Irish want to talk about the Irish ancestry of Sen. Barack Obama on his mother's side."
The Vietnamese, on the other hand, want to hear about Sen. John McCain, a prisoner of war in Hanoi four decades ago, while the Kenyan audience is keen for insight about Mr. Obama's father, a native of the country.
The Voice of America (VOA) is providing live broadcasts from both countries.
