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| Corner of England awaits new president | Corner of England awaits new president |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The base is home to approximately 4,500 US airmen By Sarah Bell BBC News, RAF Lakenheath, East Anglia | The base is home to approximately 4,500 US airmen By Sarah Bell BBC News, RAF Lakenheath, East Anglia |
| It's not just American citizens living in the US itself who will choose who they want for the new president, but also those expats living all around the world - including in the UK. | It's not just American citizens living in the US itself who will choose who they want for the new president, but also those expats living all around the world - including in the UK. |
| With fire hydrants on sidewalks where children walk to elementary school, there's a bustling slice of American life in a quiet corner of East Anglia. | With fire hydrants on sidewalks where children walk to elementary school, there's a bustling slice of American life in a quiet corner of East Anglia. |
| Boasting baseball fields, looming water towers and supermarkets where groceries are exchanged for dollars, RAF Lakenheath is the largest US airbase in the UK. | Boasting baseball fields, looming water towers and supermarkets where groceries are exchanged for dollars, RAF Lakenheath is the largest US airbase in the UK. |
| The 2,004 acres of Suffolk soil is home to approximately 4,500 American airmen, 6,000 family members and 1,600 civilian employees. | The 2,004 acres of Suffolk soil is home to approximately 4,500 American airmen, 6,000 family members and 1,600 civilian employees. |
| 'Vested interest' | 'Vested interest' |
| And these citizens at the base of 48th fighter wing and its F-15 planes have been preparing for the historic election as keenly as their countrymen across the Atlantic. | And these citizens at the base of 48th fighter wing and its F-15 planes have been preparing for the historic election as keenly as their countrymen across the Atlantic. |
| The community outside the perimeter fence is also eyeing the result, as its economy would be affected by any future decisions on US military presence overseas. | The community outside the perimeter fence is also eyeing the result, as its economy would be affected by any future decisions on US military presence overseas. |
| The American citizens vote via the absentee ballot system - by 23 October, the base's Post Office had received 2,704 ballots and returned more than 2,086 to the US. | The American citizens vote via the absentee ballot system - by 23 October, the base's Post Office had received 2,704 ballots and returned more than 2,086 to the US. |
| Major William Hurtle led the operation to ensure they used their mandate, aided by 73 volunteers. | Major William Hurtle led the operation to ensure they used their mandate, aided by 73 volunteers. |
| Which candidate is going to pull out troops [from Iraq] sooner, that has not affected my decision, I don't think about it like that Aimee Ross | Which candidate is going to pull out troops [from Iraq] sooner, that has not affected my decision, I don't think about it like that Aimee Ross |
| "The servicemen have a vested interest in being involved in the electoral process, particularly because of issues like healthcare and the benefits scheme," he said. | "The servicemen have a vested interest in being involved in the electoral process, particularly because of issues like healthcare and the benefits scheme," he said. |
| "And it's a historic election this year, there has been a lot of excitement, a lot of people are getting involved with that." | "And it's a historic election this year, there has been a lot of excitement, a lot of people are getting involved with that." |
| There are no special events planned on the base to mark election night, and servicemen are not allowed to express political opinions while in uniform. | There are no special events planned on the base to mark election night, and servicemen are not allowed to express political opinions while in uniform. |
| Those who live on base find everything they need, including a cinema, chapel and bowling alley. | Those who live on base find everything they need, including a cinema, chapel and bowling alley. |
| There's a hospital where it's estimated 50 babies are born each month. | There's a hospital where it's estimated 50 babies are born each month. |
| But others choose to live in the towns around the base, placing their children in British schools. | But others choose to live in the towns around the base, placing their children in British schools. |
| Aimee Ross, 33, from Utah, has lived in neighbouring Brandon for two years, and her husband has just returned from Afghanistan. | Aimee Ross, 33, from Utah, has lived in neighbouring Brandon for two years, and her husband has just returned from Afghanistan. |
| She voted for Barack Obama, as she said the Democratic Party's views on issues like education, healthcare and women's rights most closely match hers. | She voted for Barack Obama, as she said the Democratic Party's views on issues like education, healthcare and women's rights most closely match hers. |
| The fact that her husband is in the military did not shape her decision, because she said the couple had consciously separated his work life from their home life. | The fact that her husband is in the military did not shape her decision, because she said the couple had consciously separated his work life from their home life. |
| "Which candidate is going to pull out troops [from Iraq] sooner, that has not affected my decision, I don't think about it like that," she said. | "Which candidate is going to pull out troops [from Iraq] sooner, that has not affected my decision, I don't think about it like that," she said. |
| Iraq war | Iraq war |
| Jeffrey Griffis, 18, from Mississippi, the son of teachers on the base, was taking a break from his high school classes. | Jeffrey Griffis, 18, from Mississippi, the son of teachers on the base, was taking a break from his high school classes. |
| He said the election was the main topic of conversation at school and they had held a mock election that morning in his US government class. | He said the election was the main topic of conversation at school and they had held a mock election that morning in his US government class. |
| A lot of my friends have parents who are deployed, they miss them and want them to come home Jeffrey Griffis | A lot of my friends have parents who are deployed, they miss them and want them to come home Jeffrey Griffis |
| Yet he said he wouldn't be staying up to watch the results as he had a physics test the next day. | Yet he said he wouldn't be staying up to watch the results as he had a physics test the next day. |
| Mr Obama also won his vote, as he doesn't think Sarah Palin has enough experience to be president should anything happen to John McCain. He also disagreed with the Republican's stance on the Iraq war. | Mr Obama also won his vote, as he doesn't think Sarah Palin has enough experience to be president should anything happen to John McCain. He also disagreed with the Republican's stance on the Iraq war. |
| "He wants to stay in there until the job's done, which will be forever. A lot of my friends have parents who are deployed, they miss them and want them to come home," he said. | "He wants to stay in there until the job's done, which will be forever. A lot of my friends have parents who are deployed, they miss them and want them to come home," he said. |
| But Mr McCain was the candidate of choice for April Cartwright, 22, from Colorado, because of his military background. | But Mr McCain was the candidate of choice for April Cartwright, 22, from Colorado, because of his military background. |
| "I like his views and the fact he's been around government for a lot longer than Barack Obama. It's also nice to know he's served his country," she said. | "I like his views and the fact he's been around government for a lot longer than Barack Obama. It's also nice to know he's served his country," she said. |
| "People who have served are usually more appreciative of their country and the freedoms they have." | "People who have served are usually more appreciative of their country and the freedoms they have." |
| In Brandon itself, the roar of aircraft overhead and the occasional left-hand drive car on the roads were the only signs of the activity just a few miles away. | In Brandon itself, the roar of aircraft overhead and the occasional left-hand drive car on the roads were the only signs of the activity just a few miles away. |
| 'Double-edged sword' | 'Double-edged sword' |
| Reg Silvester, chairman of Brandon Town Council, said the three military bases in the area were the town's biggest employer. | Reg Silvester, chairman of Brandon Town Council, said the three military bases in the area were the town's biggest employer. |
| He estimated 6,000 of the 12,000 population worked at one of the bases and it would be hard if they were ever to close. | He estimated 6,000 of the 12,000 population worked at one of the bases and it would be hard if they were ever to close. |
| "We would struggle until something else came along to fill the void," he said. | "We would struggle until something else came along to fill the void," he said. |
| He said he too would be an Obama man if he had the vote. "Obama can talk to people, McCain is a swashbuckler, that's the way he comes across. We can't afford these wars, and neither can America. | He said he too would be an Obama man if he had the vote. "Obama can talk to people, McCain is a swashbuckler, that's the way he comes across. We can't afford these wars, and neither can America. |
| "Mr Obama may well reduce the American military presence around the world, but I'm not so sure that would be bad. It's a double-edged sword for us." | "Mr Obama may well reduce the American military presence around the world, but I'm not so sure that would be bad. It's a double-edged sword for us." |
| The presence of the Americans also affects rents and property prices in the area. | The presence of the Americans also affects rents and property prices in the area. |
| "The rents are astronomical around here," says Kaaren Tweed, who lives in Brandon. "A lot of people buy a second home and live off the income from that." | "The rents are astronomical around here," says Kaaren Tweed, who lives in Brandon. "A lot of people buy a second home and live off the income from that." |
| Watching the servicemen on the camp in their uniforms is a reminder that whoever becomes the 44th US president will have an impact a long way from Washington. | Watching the servicemen on the camp in their uniforms is a reminder that whoever becomes the 44th US president will have an impact a long way from Washington. |