We are still in Tonopah, the little silver seeker town. Here are my impressions about how the people here are touched by the upcoming presidential election.
When we arrived in the town, the first thing we did was entering the next gas station to get something to drink. And what could we do there? We could vote!
John McCain or Barack Obama? But we did not vote for the next president by putting a little cross at the right place - we had to choose a cup for our coffee with McCain's or Obama's face on it.
What a funny idea, and it showed, who is the leader of this coffee cup competition: Only three Obama cups were left besides the coffee machine.
When we drove down the main street, we did not see any sign standing in the front yard or in the windows of the houses. The only bumper sticker was promoting the "National Riffle Association".
But when we visited the gift shop near the local McDonald's, we saw many souvenirs with the candidates' faces, signs or colors.
Comparing to the Obama coffee cup, the souvenir competition was almost even. The Republican key rings do sell as good (or as bad) as the Democratic key rings.
Key rings, mouse pads, stickers, buttons and signs could be bought in the shop.
We asked the owner of the gift shop, if this is the normal reaction on to a presidential election.
"No", she said. "I can not remember having these souvenirs of the parties and candidates for sale."
The pop star feeling during this election can not be denied even in Tonopah.
Does she sale the election souvenirs to residents? She laughted: "The only ones who buys these are the younger people and, of course, the tourists, especially tourists from Europe. It is not a political statement for them. For them it is only a souvenir, just like the fake horseshoes or the cowboys hats."
Again, you can see, that the presidential election touches Europe, too. Maybe the pop star image of the campaigns of the candidates affect the Europeans more than the American citizens, who refuses to buy Obama mouse pads and demonstrabltely concentrate on the candidates' programs and politics.
When we arrived in the town, the first thing we did was entering the next gas station to get something to drink. And what could we do there? We could vote!
John McCain or Barack Obama? But we did not vote for the next president by putting a little cross at the right place - we had to choose a cup for our coffee with McCain's or Obama's face on it.
What a funny idea, and it showed, who is the leader of this coffee cup competition: Only three Obama cups were left besides the coffee machine.
When we drove down the main street, we did not see any sign standing in the front yard or in the windows of the houses. The only bumper sticker was promoting the "National Riffle Association".
But when we visited the gift shop near the local McDonald's, we saw many souvenirs with the candidates' faces, signs or colors.
Comparing to the Obama coffee cup, the souvenir competition was almost even. The Republican key rings do sell as good (or as bad) as the Democratic key rings.
Key rings, mouse pads, stickers, buttons and signs could be bought in the shop.
We asked the owner of the gift shop, if this is the normal reaction on to a presidential election.
"No", she said. "I can not remember having these souvenirs of the parties and candidates for sale."
The pop star feeling during this election can not be denied even in Tonopah.
Does she sale the election souvenirs to residents? She laughted: "The only ones who buys these are the younger people and, of course, the tourists, especially tourists from Europe. It is not a political statement for them. For them it is only a souvenir, just like the fake horseshoes or the cowboys hats."
Again, you can see, that the presidential election touches Europe, too. Maybe the pop star image of the campaigns of the candidates affect the Europeans more than the American citizens, who refuses to buy Obama mouse pads and demonstrabltely concentrate on the candidates' programs and politics.
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