The United States Embassy in Banjul, on Tuesday, observed the 2008 US presidential election night in the form of television broadcast, at the conference hall of Sheraton Hotel in Brufut.

Veteran politicians, diplomats, media chiefs, as well as officials from the Independent Electoral Commission,were among several people invited by the Embassy to watch live television broadcast as results of the historic US presidential election were announced.

In a way of gauging the stand of the two presidential hopefuls (John McCain and Barack Obama) in the Gambia, the organizers of the television broadcast sounded the opinion of the gathering, conducting an opinion poll sort of in the course of the night.

The Democratic presidential hopeful (now president elect), Barack Obama, defeated Republican presidential hopeful John McCain by 81 votes to 1.

Addressing the gathering, Brian Baohman, Charge D'Affair at the US Embassy, who stood in for the Ambassador, informed the gathering that the 2008 US presidential race has riveted the world's attention. He observed that whether it was their economy, the environment, national security or the wars in Iraq and Afganistan, it was certain that they were facing challenges.

He said that the candidates, who presented clear choices of many of these problems they face, should be commended for their commitment as they had navigated the lengthy and tasking path to the White House.

The 2008 US election, according to the charge D' Affair, had for many people in the US and around the world, restored their interest and belief in democracy, as candidates from non-traditional backgrounds have emerged to claim their seats at the table of power and responsibility in the US. This, he went on, showed that anyone could rise above the injustices of their past and rise to the pinnacle of power in the US, regardless of your race, gender or faith.

He told the gathering that they were expecting a higher voter turnout than it had been in the past, as many US citizens who never voted in the past were doing so for the first time this year, with the belief that their voices would be finally heard in this year's election.

He said that for the past years, the world had been watching the American political scene - a messy, chaotic and, at times, brutal contest for power that was probably the most gruesome political test in the world.

"For all it flaws, however, it is also a sterling display of what we see as one of the most fundamental of human rights - the right for people to choose their own government, and to hold that government accountable through regular and transparent elections," he said.

The US Embassy Charge D' Affair then pointed out that the two presidential candidates had engaged in rhetorical battle in debates, commercials, personal appearances, fundraising shows, among others, over the last few months, trying to portray to the American people why they and not their opponent, should be trusted with the power and responsibility of running the United States government.