A UNIVERSITY lecturer who voted for US President elect Barack Obama by postal ballot says she is very proud.
Dr Donna Jackson who has dual UK and American citizenzship was registered for an overseas postal ballot and is proud to have played her part, among the many millions of Americans who voted in sweeping the Democrat candidate to power on Tuesday night.
The University of Chester lecturer stayed up until the early hours to watch America’s historic elections and was cautiously optimistic that history would be made.
She said: “I was unsure about the polls. I thought it was going to be quite a big step but it was really an incredible night, such an exciting step for America. There really is now for the first time in history a feeling, especially among young people that anyone in America can grow up and be president.
She added: “It is amazing and thrilling how excited American people became about politics and the elections, people everywhere wanted to participate.
She added: “Friends are telling me how proud they are to be American.”
She believes Barack Obama, America’s 44th president will be a “young, exciting and dynamic leader”.
Dr Jackson who has family living in the US on her father’s side has worked in Congress in Washington DC as an intern for a Republican Congressman.
A lecturer in History and Archeology, Dr Jackson is an authority on American politics who has published work on The Jimmy Carter administration and American Soviet relations during the Cold War.
She said: “I don’t think there will be much difference between the UK and America in terms of the special relationship whether a Democrat or a Republican had won. John McCain and Barack Obama have both already visited the UK.”
