PESHAWAR, Oct 12: The Lieutenant-governor of Dacota state of the United States, Ms Carole Hillard, has ruled out any possibility of a change in US policy on Pakistan after the November presidential elections.
Speaking to Peshawar University students at the Senate Hall about the 'US Election-2004', Ms Hillard, a Republican, said both candidates - George Bush and John Kerry - were busy in their campaigns at present. Negative statements were made during elections because people often voted against somebody rather than for somebody, she remarked.
She said there was a difference between the philosophies of the Republican and Democratic parties, as the Democrats favoured large government role, strong centre, more social welfare projects for workers, minorities and greater contribution to economy through taxes.
The Republicans believed in limited government role, strong state rights, low taxes, fewer services and supported private ownership, personal liberty and responsibilities and a free-market economy.
Ms Hillard said that although there was a two-party system in the US, a candidate was not bound to support everything the party stood for. The two-party system did not mean that smaller parties or groups were deprived of their rights. The problems of the minority groups were incorporated into the manifestoes of both the parties, she added.
Ms Hillard said the US electoral college comprised 538 votes which maintained the federal system. Votes are allocated to each state in proportion to its representation and 270 votes were required to win the election.
Personal qualification and character of a candidate also played an important role in the election campaign, she said and added that the attacks of 9/11 had changed the traditional concept for a US president.
"Before 9/11, the Americans favoured a friendly sort of president whom they could invite to their homes, but now they want a strong, powerful commander-in-chief as their president," said Ms Hillard.
Both the candidates had strong track records in this regard, she said. Mr Bush had pledged that he would take the war to the terrorists instead of allowing them to attack the US interests. "He has been very aggressive since 9/11 as 4,000 people died in these attacks," Ms Hillard said.
George Bush had a conservative approach towards social matters like abortion which was a contentious issue though it was legal. Republicans did not support it but the issue had the backing of Democrats. Mr Bush was against the same-sex marriages. It was a complex issue which involved adoption and social security issues.
Though both the candidates had solid backing in some states, the leaning and swinging in some states could change the situation, she added. Ms Hillard said televised debates played a very effective role in the election and the final TV debate on Thursday would be decisive.
During the question-answer session, Ms Hillard said that women in America had been playing an active role in politics and Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Dole, Condoleezza Rice were among those who had emerged as strong women politicians.
However, women were still the largest undecided voting bloc, she added. Answering a question about the situation in Iraq, Ms Hillard said though she was not representing the State Department, she believed that the US would stay in Iraq till the country stood on its own feet. "Iraq will not become another Vietnam," she stated.
