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(Barring a repeat of last time�s hanging chads fiasco and legal challenges)<br> <br> What difference will it make? <br> <br> The leadership of the world�s only superpower makes a huge difference in all areas of our lives.<br> <br> From fighting terrorism and the trade rules that effect our prosperity, to the challenge of climate change and some of the big policy questions where what happens in America ripples round the world.<br> <br> It has been a strange election � with the incumbent President rarely so unpopular outside America.<br> <br> It has been particularly difficult for Labour Ministers here because of the convention that we don�t comment on elections in other countries. <br> <br> That is not simply a matter of diplomatic protocol, but also national self interest. We have to work with whomever is elected. We remember the damage done to Britain by John Major�s ill fated interference to help George Bush senior in his unsuccessful campaign against Bill Clinton. <br> <br> Back bench MPs are free to express their opinions and they have been. Every Labour one asked said they wanted a Kerry victory. What was more surprising was that a number of Conservatives � who normally support the Republican candidate � did too. This is a measure of the challenge a second Bush term will face in the outside world. <br> <br> If Bush has won, he now has the opportunity to surprise his critics. If it is Kerry, he has the rather more difficult task of fulfilling expectations.<br> <br> What I am looking for is a President who is effective at building international support to tackle terrorism and its causes. One who is prepared to expend serious political capital resolving the Israel/Palestine problem. And one who recognises and addresses the environmental and international development challenges we face.<br> <br> Whoever has won, Bush or Kerry, the UK Government�s priority will be to work hard to try to make sure those things happen. <br> </font></td> </tr><tr> <td height="-7"><a href="#top"><img alt="Back to Top" src="../../graphics/180601_pages/back_top.gif" width="100" height="27" border="0"></a></td> </tr> </table> </body></td></tr></table>