73050-12EX-PAT Americans in Swindon are awaiting next week's presidential elections. Some will be favouring Bush, the others Kerry, while some even feel the whole poll is a sham.

But whatever their political allegiances, they will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of Tuesday's poll.

One of the high profile Americans in the Swindon area, is Lisa Hawkes, 38, who represents Highworth on Swindon Council.

Originally from Colorado, she is the proprietor of Highworth's Jesmond House Hotel. She is the widow of local businessman Maurice Hawkes, who died earlier this year, aged 63.

Although Lisa is a Conservative councillor, she is a registered Democrat and will be voting for presidential challenger John Kerry by post.

She said: "I'm a Conservative over here, but I've always been a Democrat at home and I continue to be so.

"I have rather strong feelings against Mr Bush, so my vote is going to be for Mr Kerry.

"One of the things that I dislike about the republican party is this whole pro-guns, anti-abortion stance."

She also accuses Bush of having no real knowledge of world geography, and agrees with those who believe he "stole" the election amid confusion over the count in Florida, where his brother, Jeb, is governor.

Similar charges were laid against the President by campaigning filmmaker Michael Moore in his controversial film, Fahrenheit 911.

Although Republicans are traditionally associated with Conservatism, the schism between Republicans and Democrats crosses different lines from the schism between Labour and the Conservatives in Britain.

Although the Republican Ronald Reagan and Conservative Margaret Thatcher were allies in the 1980s, for example, the Republican Bush and Labour Blair have a strong friendship today.

Another American in Swindon is Stewart Silberberg, a postal worker and father of two who lives in Upper Stratton and came to live in Britain with his then wife 15 years ago.

Mr Silberberg, 48, is also known to many Swindon people as both compere and performer at stand-up comedy evenings at various venues across the town. He will not be voting.

Although a proud American, originally from the Bronx in New York, he is less than impressed with his native land's politics.

He said: "It doesn't matter who wins, because big business wins anyway, and every guy has skeletons in the closet.

"It's just a big popularity contest in the US.

"But although I don't like Mr Bush, I think he has to stick in there until they've got this situation in Iraq over with.

"Kerry's pretty good, but I think Bush should be there."

Barrie Hudson