Expats watched the U.S. Elections under the Big Palapa at the famous Blue Parrot

Mexicans intensely watched the northern neighbor

by JP the Writer

Expats gathered under the Big Palapa in the lounge area at the Blue Parrot. Hosts Tom Doody and Pam Robbins hoisted the biggest screen TV in Playa del Carmen so that the couch potatoes could gather to find out who would be the next President of the United States of America.

Yes, the beer was flowing, the popcorn popping, and the crowd was ready for the biggest election to hit the world stage in decades.

“I am for Kerry” said Joe Bevaqua, a local resident. “He’s the right man for the job”. “That’s right” said Allison, a lovely vocal local patron.

In fact, every time an electoral vote for Kerry went up the crowd cheered on. This reporter could find NO supporter of President George W. Bush anywhere near the free event. The crowed clearly was John Kerry based......................

However, as darkness fell on the crowd and with every moment moving and pointing towards a Bush victory, the mood turned somber as the enormity of the matter hit home.

“It’s so dark. It feels like Kryptonite has hit me and I can’t speak, can’t move….” said Betty, a patron sitting in the wonderful mattresses lying in the sand. "It' horrible, I am so glad I am in Mexico" uttered another unamed expat. Clearly disappointment hit hard in Playa del Carmen.

Elsewhere in the country, Mexicans watched intensely as the this election affected them directly.

"The White House, up in the air" read one newspaper headline. "Ohio, a final battleground,” read another. Most Mexican newspapers headlines carried the story in its front pages.

People here were talking about the U.S. election as if it were a domestic issue. Mexicans —suddenly experts in the mechanics of the American electoral system — were anxiously discussing state's electoral votes that were being conceded to one candidate or the other throughout Tuesday evening.

Local TV and radio stations had commissioned reporters to the main American cities where most Hispanics live and to the candidates' camps, bringing home live reports, first projections and the mood that prevailed during the election day.

Local TV networks interrupted their usual programming and the popular evening soap operas to produce wall to wall coverage of the first results that were shaping up the future of America.

Americans living in Mexico City gathered at a famous city restaurant for an election night event sponsored by the American embassy. Thousands of Americans, mixed with prominent Mexican politicians, watched returns through big screens set up around the room. People were dressed in red, white and blue and colored balloons, flags and campaign posters decorated the venue.

For American Colleen Patton there was too much at stake in this election. "Whatever gets decided tonight, it will affect the whole world," she said, “and it will affect Americans living here.”

The American community in Mexico had a record high participation in the electoral process, with more absentee ballots cast and more people registered than in previous occasions.

In Mexico, there is a general feeling that the country's destiny is closely tied to the future of America. The Mexican economy depends on its northern neighbor success or failure.

But what worries Mexicans the most is the future of a much postponed immigration agreement that would give legal status to million of Mexicans living in the U.S. Whatever the outcome of the election, Mexicans are eager to start working on the bilateral agenda sooner rather than later.

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