America hardly agog at UK election drama
The British embassy in Washington hosted a splendid party on election night, complete with red, blue and yellow cocktails and a giant plasma TV screen showing the ´óÏó´«Ã½ results programme.
But I can't really say America is agog watching our most exciting election in decades. The president's spokesman has said it is "a bit fascinating" and, more importantly, that the US will work closely with who ever is elected. This White House gets very bored by the British media's obsession with the special relationship and I don't get the feeling that the exact flavour of the government will make too much difference.
Personalities are fascinating and do matter hugely in politics on occasions. The chemistry between Maggie and Ronnie, Blair and Bush did certainly create a reaction, if not new policy compounds. But much of the day-to-day specialness of the UK-US relationship takes place between military and intelligence contacts on a daily basis. If there are no policy changes - and there won't be - these will not suffer the slightest hiccough of a hiatus.
The one thing this administration is a little concerned about is the suggestion that the conservatives are hostile to the European Union, and the Conservative's shadow foreign secretary William Hague reassured Hillary Clinton on this point months ago. American eyes are fixed on Europe at the moment and the president has phoned German Chancellor Angela Merkel twice in the last few days, urging her to take swift action on the Greek debt crisis. They will be hoping the latest package will stop the contagion spreading.
I’m Mark Mardell, the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s North America editor. These are my reflections on American politics, some thoughts on being a Brit living in the USA, and who knows what else? My 
Comments
or to comment.