Nov 3, 2008 6:39 pm US/Central
Foreign Journalists Flock To City To Cover Obama
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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Akako Kimura of Tokyo is just one of dozens of foreign jouranlists in Chicago to cover the presidential election.
CBS
Chicago is no stranger to the foreign press, but those journalists are here in almost unprecedented numbers right now to cover Barack Obama's historic run for the White House, and what is likely to be an amazing scene Tuesday night in Grant Park.
CBS 2'S Dorothy Tucker reports many of them are getting a real education in Chicago-style politics and voting. A total of about 120 voters from around the globe have signed up to cover the presidential election.
"It's very exciting," said Honduran journalist Germin Briceno. "United States is our commercial and political partner."
"They want me here to find out how the next president will look at the issue in the Middle East," said Bilg Eser, who is here from Turkey.
Although foreign relations and the economy are important, reporters admit the biggest story is the historical significance of this election and the possibility that an African American could become president of the United States.
"All of Africa people have been spending nights watching the debates on cable. They don't sleep. they discuss in bars. They discuss in offices," said Ghanaian journalist Kofn Owusu.
To capture the history making moment, satellite trucks surround Grant Park, ready to send pictures of Obama's rally around the globe Tuesday night.
Many of the reporters have also gone to Hyde Park, Sen. Obama's home. One of their first stops is often to a barber shop run by a man called Zariff, Obama's personal barber. His 15 minutes of fame have taken him to a dozen countries.
"They want to know what kind of person Obama is in a relaxed state," he said.
When they find out what kind of person Obama is, they head a few block west to see where he lives.
"Today we're covering security around Obama's house," said Akako Kimura of Tokyo.
And Tuesday they'll cover the big story. Foreign reporters have been given a list of all the polling places. Many of them will be sticking around until the end of the week.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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