Published: 5:10PM Wednesday October 22, 2008
Paul Henry hosts five hours of live coverage in a ONE News special, America Decides, on November 5 at 12.30pm on TV ONE.
The coverage includes expert analysis in-studio, plus live crosses to the American networks as the results filter through, to see who will become the next American president - the Democrats' Barack Obama or Republican John McCain.
ONE News: America Decides will gauge reactions from Americans living in New Zealand, along with American political analysts, and will cross to our reporters on the ground with McCain and Obama - US correspondent Tim Wilson and reporter Garth Bray.
"Personally, I am fascinated by the campaign," Henry says.
"It's fascinating to see the reactions of Americans to two extraordinary candidates. In Barack Obama and McCain's running mate Sarah Palin, you have two totally different propositions.
"Whoever ultimately wins this election will hold down arguably the most important job in the world. Understandably there is huge interest in this presidential election throughout the developed world.
"We'll be looking at history being made. Americans are being told that this is the most important presidential election in living memory, which gives it an extra sense of gravitas," Henry says.
"The interesting thing is that there is a feeling that when push comes to shove and people are actually standing in the booth with the ballot paper in their hand, they won't necessarily do what they have said they will. This could be a surprise result.
"Voting is a deeply private thing. In the public arena, people may say and do and promise things they won't do when they are voting. We don't know. Maybe the apparent swing to Obama is not really there."
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