“I am extremely excited that Obama was elected.  I was glued to the T.V. until early in the morning.  This clear victory was so important,” said Ellen.  As with many of her fellow countrymen, Ellen, who lives in Cologne, chose a man for president who promises a new style of politics.

According to estimates of the Consulate General in Dusseldorf, there are between 8,000 to 10,000 Americans living in North Rhine-Westphalia, all of who were called upon to participate in the General Election.  “It was very easy,” explained one American from Bonn. She was registered in California, her last place of residence in the U.S., and could fill out the needed documentation online.  “Then my absentee ballot came and I sent it back on time for Election Day.”

The simple voting process has apparently aided in enticing Americans who live overseas to be involved.  The Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) of the Defense Department, which supports U.S. citizens living abroad, reported record participation for 2008.  By October, over 10m visits had been recorded for the FVAP website (www.fvap.gov), whereas only 7m visits were recorded in 2004.

Americans living in North Rhine-Westphalia received broad support in the time running up to the election from organizations such as Republicans, and Democrats Abroad. “We didn’t conduct street campaigning, rather, we answered questions about the electoral process,” said Elaine Terlinden, Chairwoman of Republicans Abroad Germany.  In the past, it was common for Americans living abroad to miss the registration deadline, being that each state sets its own. “But this year, it was almost easier to vote here than in the U.S.” claimed Terlinden.  The chairwoman views the high expectations Germans have for the new president with skepticism.  She went on saying, “Obama has awakened hope and I believe Germans will be disappointed.”

Obama-mania came, however, at a very opportune time for the Democrats. “It ran very well. The people were interested and we carried out an intensive campaign on the streets of Dusseldorf, Cologne and Bonn,” William Purcell, Chairman of Democrats Abroad NRW, said. “German-American relations, in my opinion, will improve through the new president because he is open, wants to speak with other countries and hear their opinions,” he went on to say.

The rosy German-American relationship many hope to see is, however, questionable.  The wish-list is long and the current situation of economic problems is troublesome for the new president, according to Jared Sonnicksen, Political Scientist at the University of Bonn.  That also goes for the 50m Americans who don’t have health insurance, a fact that many Americans overseas want to have changed.”

The call for the US, the world’s top polluter, to join the Kyoto Protocol also tampers Sonnicksen’s hopes.  “I am not sure if Obama is for it.  Clinton wasn’t.  It won’t be much of a challenge for Europe, as obligations are already being met.  It is huge for the U.S., however, and they don’t want to ‘get on ship’ if the Chinese and Indians aren’t there.”  Sonnicksen can though, understand the excitement of his fellow countrymen and that of the German people.  “80 percent of Germans would have voted for him, because before there was alienation, this sense of frustration.” The image of the USA under Bush suffered terribly – to the chagrin of Americans abroad.  Now, with Obama, there is a new agenda.  “At the time of a treacherous economic news, you hear a tone that doesn’t play on fear, rather seizes the need of optimism and change.”