(The Moscow Times) It is exciting to observe politics in a foreign country because they often show what Russia lacks. That said, I am following the U.S. presidential race not so much to learn useful lessons but simply because it is fascinating to watch. It is like a major soccer match — only much more money is involved, like a chess game — and the moves and countermoves are far more complex. It is like going to the theater, except that nobody knows how the drama will end. In fact, I follow practically all U.S. senatorial and even several gubernatorial races, along with the occasional House of Representatives election. Back when Russia had a form of elections, I used to follow those races as well and even knew the various candidates’ platforms.
Russian politics lack many positive elements found in the U.S. system. For example, U.S. presidential candidates have to spend months — and in this race, years — speaking at hundreds of meetings and shaking hands with tens of thousands of voters. This isn’t the fault of politicians but of voters, who are often unwilling to vote for a candidate unless they personally hear him speak in their own community. […]
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