IT HAS been some time since an American election caught the public imagination quite like this one.

For the past weeks and months of what has been one of the longest running and most expensive election campaigns, hundreds of thousands of Americans have turned out at political rallies the length and breadth of the United States of America.

They have queued in all weathers and for hours at a time just for the chance to hear their chosen candidate.

And yesterday the queues forming outside the voting booths showed there was no chance of the fervour fading. The reason is Barack Obama with his undoubted charisma. With his promise of change he has fired the enthusiasm of American people currently facing the greatest financial crisis in decades and still fighting two unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.