Wow, judging from comments following this mean-spirited attempt at satire, you must have found nearly every person who is in the 20% of Americans who still believe that * is doing a good job.
I am not one of them.
McCain = more of the same. 'Nuff said.

Jude, Columbia MD, US

"It’s a measure of just how poorly McCain has run his campaign that Americans seem to be buying it." McCain didn't run his campaign - the media did. Obama didn't run his campaign - the media did. Guess whose they ran better?

KJB, Oak Ridge, TN, USA

Mr. Ayers: I think that your American colleagues have had something to do with the public's purchase of Obama's snake oil. I'd wager that the Gipper himself would have been greatly handicapped if he had been faced with a Democratic press corps masquerading as an "impartial watchdog" for the people.

Tim, Rocky Mount, US

Mehhh...obamawho??? I must say, it`s very refreshing to see you fine British folk are wise and pragmatic.Personally I`ll be voting for REAL change, McCain/Palin.

Chris, Bellport, NY, USA

Oh why does God hate us so?

Dave, Hampden, MA, USA

Wish I could recall the quote regarding how wealthy countries eventually rot intellectually & morally from their bloated insides out. The hippie-era "activists" are now our university professors, presiding over lower education standards and rampant liberal indoctrination...and Obama is their hero.

Don M., Los Angeles, CA, USA

Fear not, patriots. McCain *is* going to win. Many of the polls have been manipulated with bad working assumptions and now one of the biggest disinformation campaigns in history in an attempt to suppress the McCain vote. The only way he won't win is if YOU don't go out to the polls on Tuesday. VOTE

Elizabeth, NYC, USA

Thanks for the laughs. I didn't watch the mawk-a-thon, so I didn't waste my tissue supply -- which could be valuable since this country's goin' down the drain economically speaking. My tissues could be needed for when McCain beats Obie. Tears of joy!

Suzanna, Blue Ridge,

"...Americans seem to be buying it."

Don't believe everything that you read.

Jim Treacher, Springfield, USA

God puts in place leaders that are a direct reflection of a nation both morally and ethically, hence, Barrack Obama. People don't understand that you get a self of accomplishment by going out a earning what you have, not by just being given it. Unfortunately, Bush has blown it for conservatives.

Mark Mariani, Calsbad,Ca., USA

I am certain Obama's words will be a great comfort to his Kenyan relatives living on one dollar per month. I expect he will get around to redistributing some of his wealth as soon as Michelle gets a raise and more government contracts for her university.

Nick Packwood, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A vote for Obama is a vote for:

- Higher taxes
- Weaker military
- Breathtaking inexperience

McCain/Palin isn't the ideal ticket, as always, the Presidential election in the U.S. comes down to the lesser of two evils. . . and this time, McCain is clearly the wise choice.

John Martin, Nashua, NH, USA

Obama is the prototypical empty suit. He looks good and he's got a Presidential voice - and after eight years of the Mumbler-in-Chief that may be all that matters. No experience, no character, Orwellian control of the media by his campaign - but, hey, he's the Oprah candidate!

John Miller, Foster City, CA, USA

As for "constant, abrasive negative campaigning," I guess to you telling the truth about Obama's associations and policies constitutes "negative campaigning." It's a lie that McCain hasn't addressed the issues. And if Obama constantly pulling the race card isn't "abrasive," I don't know what is.

Gregg Davis, Grain Valley, USA

Don't get suckered by the hype. I'm American, I have hope, despite working hard. Obama wants to take my hard earned pay and spread to around to others "less fortunate". That's not America, that's welfare, and it's the defeat of ambition. McCain is not perfect, but he's a better choice for President.

Bob, Myrtle Beach SC, USA

I live in Illinois, Obama's home state. He hasn't accomplished anything while in the State and the US Senate. I don't expect him to be able to accomplish much if he becomes President, with the exception of perhaps spending the country further into debt and sitting down with our enemies.

Rochelle, Champaign, USA

I love my country and I am repulsed by Obama's view of my country. He does not speak for me. And I am not captivated by his slick-haired-salesman approach. Sarkozy had it right. Barry O is an empty suit.

Sweetpea, Washington, USA

It's sad that we Americans are about to pass on a bona fide hero with a record of reform, and instead settle on Jimmy Carter 2.0 with an ugly socialist streak who believes our education should be centered on laughable concepts such as "oppression studies". Terrible.

Adam, Washington, DC, USA

It's unbelievable to me that people actually believe this guy is going to make all their problems disappear. A lot of people are going to be in for a huge let down when he can't make good on most of his promises.

Sharon, Maryland, USA

Unfortunately, this is how Obama sees America. Not as a nation to be celebrated with accomplishments to build upon, but as a broken nation that needs to be further torn down. If Obama is elected he will bring back the misery of the Carter administration.

Ally, Rochester, USA

I am glad that "our cousins across the pond" see Mr.Obama for the fake he is. Please yell it louder so it is heard over the water and hits some of his followers who strangely think he is the next president of the world and the messiah. McCain is the only truthful proven choice for America.

C.Taylor, Kansas, USA

Do not be fooled. A truly great American will win this election. His name is John McCain.Our nation, like yours, is certainly not perfect. But, we here in the USA prefer a candidate who, while acknowledging our mistakes and imperfections, remains unapologetic about his love of country. McCain wins.

Colin O., boston, USA

The Obama campaign considers stating the facts to be negative campaigning. So be it. The people of America have not lost hope ... don't believe that for a minute. I personally HOPE McCain wins. I didn't watch the infomercial because he was selling something I had no interest in ... Obama.

Frances, Tampa, USA

We Americans have turned into a bunch of whining babies who need Daddy Obama to take care of us.

God, please save us from this do-gooder.

Sharon, Maryland, USA

Ahhhh Welcome back Carter...

An extraordinary reality prograrm...

If Obama comes can a neveau Regan be far behind?

Chin up.

Aaron, Minnepolis, USA

There's something about the British that enables them to recognize when someone is being fatuous. A lot of Americans really believe this stuff . . . and this is the home of Hollywood. Go figure.

voirdire, Chapala, Mexico

I don't know any Americans who are depressed and negative. I don't know anyone whose hope is lost. Perhaps this is because most of us are Republicans, and we find the good where Democrats seek the bad. That's how they win elections - by exaggerating the bad and ignoring our goodness.

maryo, Raleigh, USA

McCain is a good man that is wanting to take more things off the government's hands. Obama is wanting to put more things into the governments hands. Obama is not open about his donors, his records or his connection. In actuality, Obama has more negative ads against McCain, not the other way around

Lyn, Tyler, USA

Many of us see a new Tony Blair in Obama, a politician with little experience but a good talker who has terrific spin-script writers: with not a lot of substance. I hope the American voters do not make the same mistake the British electorate made in 1997 and are now living to bitterly regret it.

B J Deller, Marbella, Spain

Is it possible that George W Bush is presented in a bad light by the subjective disgusting American press?
The man has kept America free of attacks since September 11th and has make inroads into the African continent.
All the info about Bush etc is hearsay, unless we personally know them.

Prudence Eely Bond McGuire BA, LONDON, ENGLAND UK

Yes, the Obama infomercial was depressing and focused on the negative. But you don't realize how people's hope is lost in the US. You don't see the constant, abrasive negative campaigning that McCain is doing, the the nice contrast Obama's weepathon really is. At least Obama is facing the issues.

Lasalle, Washington, USA

No that's not possible Andrew. And when you are old enough to shave, and no longer believe in Santa Claus, you will realize it too. Obama supporters are mentally immature and seek the soft comfort of self-deception.

rob, richfield, USA

Classic! At least the British know scmaltz when they see it. Was this an Obama infomercial or did somebody revive that old TV show, Queen for a Day?

Did you notice the poor woman who could not afford milk had acrylic nails? Those aren't cheap, but I suppose we all have our own priorities.

Aggie , Broken Arrow, OK , USA

Americans should not delude themselves about the consequences of electing Obama. The rest of the world will see this as evidence that the US has finally become just like them: Run by a caste of corrupt party functionaries who think that people are stupid and want to be lied to.

Klaus Becher, London,

Mr. Ayres,

Great article. I especially enjoyed the Voldemort reference, the funny Palin joke, and the use of the word "mawkishly". Lovely.

Lasalle, Washington, USA

It is just possible that the majority of Americans supporting Mr Obama are not deluded, nor are they blind, stupid or overly sentimental. They are people disillusioned by the arrogance and ineptness of the current President and by the fear that Mr McCain will do little more than continue the same.

Andrew, Jacksonville, NC, USA

Oh, come on...Lighten up! There's no need to be THAT hard on the guy. At least it wasn't nasty or mean-spirited.

Robert Willis, Charleston SC, US