U.S. expatriates a factor in 2008.

I know from my travels abroad since 1992 that Europeans in the major powers there–e.g., France, Germany, the UK–always have focused on our national elections more than we have focused on theirs. It’s sad but true, likely due to our geographic isolation, and cultural insularity from non-U.S. themes. And the 2008 U.S. presidential election is being followed more closely abroad than any other election cycle ever–especially in western Europe, where business people and regulators really like to “watch” us. But just as interesting: American expats all over the world have developed into a voting block.