MEDIA REACTION ON THE U.S ELECTIONS, NOVEMBER 10,

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002580 SIPDIS FOR WHA/PDA (OHILTON),WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV KDEM HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE U.S ELECTIONS, NOVEMBER 10, 2004 ¶1. Op-ed by Vicente Machado (Honduran Ambassador in Colombia) in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El Heraldo" on 11/10, entitled "Wink to Kerry, Smile to Bush." "Senator John Kerry received a wink in the ballots, but victory smiled on President George Bush after the U.S. elections. It was what almost everyone expected, although some skeptics believed otherwise." "I was one of those who believed Bush was going to win for a simple reason: if the decision was to be taken by all those from abroad, the politician of Massachusetts would have won easily, but since the decision depended on the Americans, an outcome in favor of the Texan was predictable." "Right or wrong, the American electorate set an example that should be followed: vote for the candidate you think is best for your country. Hondurans, who will elect our officials in 2005, should bear in mind that, at voting time or at any time, Honduras should come first, second and always." Palmer