An appeal to all US voters: try to look beyond gender, beyond tears, beyond racial biases. This is all a mere shell game. Presidents should be judged on merit, record of service, integrity, ability to negotiate consensus, savvy and skill to gauge the pulse of multiple, competing interests and steer a wise course on domestic and foreign fronts, and to take a stand away from popular opinion when needed. Stop the trial-by-popularity contest. Popular does not mean competent, and charismatic does not mean capable. It's demeaning to the essence of democracy and to each of you. Learn, listen and trust yourself. Your wiser than the media and pollsters.

L. McNulty, Vancouver, BC

I think the real reason Hillary won is because her campaign had been spreading rumors insinuating that Obama might be anti-choice (it was later proved he is pro-choice) and that fooled a lot of people in New Hampshire into voting for her.

Rosalind Lord, San Francisco, CA USA

But who wants a president who bursts into tears at the first summit?

John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England

I think that Hilary Clinton is the most competant and capable candidate in the Americal Race for presidency. if America wants Change - they should recollect a tiem whan America was a leader in the world and respected during the Clinton Administation - of which I believe was successful beacuse of Hilary Clinton's input with Bill Clinton while he was president.
The American public should not be voting for "Change" for teh sake of change - but voting for the candidate who has vision and backbone and has a record of being able to make that happen. Hillary has forethought, realistic views and tough actionable plans with specific actions to cause a desired resulted and not just lofty goals. Remeber Hillary had fought to try and get your American System to provide Universal Health Care way back when Bill was president, and though it was never passed, what your American public wants now - she has teh smarts to try and achieve 8yrs ago. Vote Smart America - VOTE HILLARY!!!

PY Chan, Vancouver, BC, Canada

You Hillary supporters make me sick. I could care less if she cried or not, it is the "Principle" that she has to use phony emotion tactics to win the sympathy vote, and THAT is what I find to be pathetic, and you all were fooled. You say she has all this experience, so in this case I guess all first ladies could make good presidents because they were married to one. Mitt Romnney should be the next president. But then again, he has only run a state as governor and run successful businesses, but Hillary has more experience. What a joke.

Chris, Tampa, FL, USA

Several correspondents refer to Clinton's experience. What in, exactly? As far as I can recall, she undertook to revamp US healthcare during her husband's first term in office and failed. If the experience is in helping Bill Clinton to become president and being First Lady, then, with respect, it doesn't seem to be a very convincing argument for her (or Chelsea, or Bush's daughters, or Reagan's son, or any other erstwhile resident of the White House) being president.

Steve Evans, Hong Kong,

I am surprised how many people worry about having a US President who may (or may not) show genuine emotion but have no difficulty in electing a President who regularly (and with other world leaders - Mr Blair) prays for guidance before mounting invasions....

Dave Gordon, Edinburgh, UK

Errm, .....crocodile tears ? Acting ..... ?

If this is the reason how a candidate became elected makes American politics laughable.

Truly pathetic.

Steve, Rugby,

Real emotion, or fake emotion, Hillary is the candidate I will be voting for. She has real experience and therefore has a legitimate chance to make change. This is what people should be focusing on, not whether or not her eyes welling up was a sign that she was a softy.

Gabrielle , New York,

Perhaps those around the world dont realize that Hillary has a 50% negative in the democratic party. among independents and republicans, it is much higher. if the republicans nominate a moderate (or if an independent enters the race) she has no chance of winning. check out any of the liberal blog sites and you will see what i mean.

ps: the woman in NH who asked the question (that made Hillary teary) voted for Obama because she felt the whole thing was contrived. as soon as the cameras went off, she went right back to a policy wonk discussion like nothing had happened.

Xspotster, San Francisco,

Such hooey over an "emotional moment." Like the entire "race" for presidency is not an emotional decision? Please. Obama lacks experience but is quite gifted with speeches. A Clinton/Obama ticket would be something. Hillary Clinton understands politics because of her experience. How she will act once president, as any candidate would act, time will only tell. Any (democrat) is better that GW Bush - what an idiot. He is an embarrassment to the U.S. and to our allies (what few we may have left) around the world. Hillary is human like us all; her experience, however, sets her apart. We need a tremendous leader to pull us out of the abyss Bush has engineered. God bless all the candidates running, our allies, and everyone in the Middle East whom we have harmed. Prayers to all who have suffered because of Bush!

rs, Nashville, Tennessee USA

I feel that we should have a vote in the coming elections what with all the media coverage over here.

With the Clintons you'll have two presidents sitting in the white house, not sure if that is such a good thing.

Obama does seem to be a breath of fresh air, that is something different that your country and the world needs.

Kris, London,

America does not need nor want more years of controversial politics. Many of us still remember how the impeached President Clinton side tracked American progress with his unacceptable behavior.

We would only be in for more of the same if the Clintons were to re-enter the White House. We also must demand to see a detailed list of the changes Senator Clinton is claiming to have exacted during her "35 years" in power.

Senator Obama has done considerably more than Senator Clinton has, and all with less controversy. Barack Obama is ready to successfully lead this country. This fact must be communicated as clearly as possible in every venue, debate, conversation, meeting, and memo. There should be not one person left with a doubt about the strengths and capabilities of Senator Barack Obama.

Willie L. Perry, New York, NY

There were NO tears! She was just a little choked up. She was hated for being tough, now she's put down for being soft. Where is your sense of fairness in people? If someone is an image you hate or are jealous of, you just have to find some sort of excuse to justify the discrimination.

ZF, Wellington,

Hillary will win the primaries and the election. You all make very good point about a leader needing to have experience, but I don't think you understand how much more divided this country will be. Republicans will not work with her. They HATE her. Obama brings to the table a more centrist point of view. You should really take time to appriciate his speeches, because you may never hear anything of that caliber again. He's already said that this is a one time campaign, and I believe him, the timing is right and the people are ready. He will not have another chance to get as far as he is going to go. Can you imagine a Clinton-Obama ticket?! it would be a dream for the Democratic Party. Unfortunately this will not happen because of the Mudslinging done by both Bill and Hillary.

My Point?!
Congrats to the Clintons, but I fee bad for your party as you do not have anyone of Obama's caliber for years to come. The Republicans always have people waiting in the wings.

Allan, North Port , FL

The world needs an experienced US President Not someone who is spinning a fairy tale with the feel good magic. Americans have to realise that this is not just an American election, this is a Global Election. The world does not wish to waste another 8 years being led by a comedian. This time around the economic damage to America will be greater if a wrong leader is selected. China and Russia are looking to seize global leadership from the once all mighty America!

I am all for Hillary not because she is a democrat or a republican but because I think she is a smart women and America is crying out for a smart leader!

James Gill, Singapore, Singapore

If I'm expected to believe that Hillary won her lopsided victory over Obama (where the actual win, if you only include dem votes, was, I believe, in the order of 10 points) because she teared up a bit? Nonsense. It may have accounted for 1/2 point, maybe 1 point, but no more, of her win. Something's wrong with this picture. I would like to know how there could be such a huge difference between Hillary's vote in New Hampshire, and her vote in Iowa.

I would like to know, if the perception that she wouldn't be as able to defeat a republican in '08, as well as Obama could, came after, or before the media attack on her, followed by the starkly contrasting vote numbers we saw in Iowa compared with New Hampshire. This lady has gotten some brutal treatment by media and republicans, that should be investigated.

john polifronio, los angeles, calif

Dear Doreen from Jacksonville.

As far as it is nice you have such a high respect for us here in britain and the rest of the world, most the people i've spoken to about this are way more in favour of barack obama.

Hilary Clinton just seems like another two-faced politician who supported the war which sent thousands of ameicans and hundreds of thousands of iraqis to death.

Great improvement she would not be..

x

N Lampkins, London, uk

She didn't cry. Watch the footage. She had a somewhat soft moment and her voice faltered slightly, but there was no tear, no blubbering. The moment has been exaggerated in reports.

Her performance in the debate - where she successfully outlined her 35 years' experience making change - was likely a more significant factor in attracting votes than her "crying".

Jay, Sydney, Australia

She's too tough! She's too soft! Let's cut Hilary some slack and let her be human for a minute. It takes guts to be vulnerable - maybe we should congratulate her for being a little bit more like every one of us. Plus - if you're questioning how she would handle another 9/11. Personally, I would rather a President who cared enough to cry than to see another President read an upside down book.

J.L.M., San Jose, USA

Apparently N.H. voters decided to show their "independence" by both, purposefully voting against the polling leader (I would call this defiance and not independence) and voting out of sympathy for a candidate. Neither is condusive to freedom.

Richard, Richmond, VA, U.S.A.

As i said before, if Hillary Clinton gets in to white house, I am
sure she will help porest American, specially older generation,
Lacking health treatment, proper homes, free schools-in all-
USA-down south, full employment, better America for American
as a whole :Cllr Ken Tiwari (Oxford UK)

Cllr Ken Tiwari (Independent), Oxford, United Kingdom

I am worried how she can lead a country , when presidents need to take enormous risks and stress. I wouldn't want her to be crying for things.

sc, US,

It's about time we had a president in the US who not only shows their emotions, but actually has them!

Tim, washington, dc

As an American woman who had not quite made up her mind who to vote for, it was so refreshing to see these readers' comments! I agree that there is nothing our country needs more than someone who is intelligent, knows their way around the political workings of Washington as well as the rest of the world. We need someone who can help restore the respect around the world that George Bush has destroyed. And when I see that people in other countries, such as Britain, see those strengths in Hillary Clinton, it helped me decide who I will vote for in the Florida primary at the end of January.
Thank you for pushing me to the correct candidate!
Rock on Hillary!!!

Doreen, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Mr Rodgers, don't be such a twit. She cried because she was feeling the strain and the pressure, it wasn't calculated. It was a spontaneous reaction to an emotionally provocative question

Greg, Oxford, United Kingdom

Lord help us if she gets in too emotional

Bob, cardiff,

This is one reason why Hillary Clinton should never be elected to the office of President. Do we really need a President who breaks down and has a good cry under pressure?

If she cries at such a minor event, what could America expect when she is really in the thick of it, up to her neck in alligators? Would she break down and cry?

Mark, Maidstone, UK

I think it was that planted placard 'IRON MY SHIRT' being held in the audience, which really brought the women out to vote. Nothing to do with the so called 'tears'

Arvin, London, GB

Hillary’s tear moment and comments were choreographed by Bill. The words reminded me of Bills Monica denial which was carefully worded to lie to the public.
But, with that said, the female card worked for her. Anyone who thinks that Hillary is not acutely aware of the camera recording this tear moment for broadcast is clueless about the real world of politics. By the way, Hillary's bid for the White house is strictly built on the race card and the gender card and you will see this played out often in the coming months. She will either play the cards herself as with the tears or one of Bills operatives will get it out there. You don’t have to believe me just watch it play out exactly as I have stated herein.
Bob Connors , Bridgeport, Ohio

Bob Connors, Bridgeport, Ohio

Absolutely classic! Someone shows they can't handle the pressure so the women of America vote for her to become president and have her finger on the nuclear button. Makes you wonder why women were ever given the vote doesn't it!

Bob Finbow, Haverhill, England

So there you go - a few tears and that's it. Really sophisticated electorate! The day Hillary Clinton liberates anybody hell will freeze over. (She only sings when she's winning and cries when she's losing).

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

I am glad that the American voters base their decisions on such rational factors...

Robert Miller, Halifax, NS, Canada

I don't buy this story. Instead, to me, it looks like the 'american people' got kicked in the teeth with election fraud.

Two things speak in favor of that assertion.

First, in NH counties where votes were hand counted, Obama won. Where the votes were counted by Diebold counting machines, Clinton won.

Second, the polls before the election were strongly in favor of Obama win and post-caucus, they turned out to be correct in all other aspects except Hillary/Obama angle, which the polls got badly wrong.

A hand recount of all votes would be in order to bring back some credibility to the process.

Thor Amudsen, London, UK

Hillary is the best candidate for job. She has all it takes. Ob would be an ideal running mate. Both would be unstoppable
Ob wouldbe ideal - but he lacks experience. Next time!!!

Andrew Lewis, Cardiff,

Who needs politics when it is the soap opera acting that will decide?

B Wood, London,

Remember the scene in 'Broadcast News' when William Hurt made himself tear up so as to appear more empathetic to his TV audience? Politics imitates art.

Carsten, Virginia, USA

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know she was just putting on a crocodile-tears act to get more votes. Besides, she didn't even cry. She just got tears in her eyes.

And it worked. It was a brilliant strategic move on her part.

I'm no big fan of Hillary because she pretends to be against Bush's policies, but she really isn't. However, I find this whole thing tiresome. Before, right-wingers loved to vilify Hilary for being cold and calculating. They did it so obsessively it was almost as if they secretly had a crush on her.

Now the mainstream media is in hysterics because she dared to display some emotion. It's like no matter what she does, there will always be someone who complains about it.

Rosalind Lord, San Francisco, CA USA

So what happens when the next 911 incedent happens?
Does America have to wait while the lady president has a little weep in a quiet room?
Politics is a tough business. She may have won the sympathy of the voters in New Hampshire but turning on the waterworks but could she do the same with every other head of state in the world?

GJB, Slough, Berkshire

Wait, hold on a minute - she was asked "who does your hair"
Right before she welled up.

A far cry from "how do you keep so upbeat and wonderful"

I saw it on the news, and I heard it. The news anchors even commented on it, thinking the pressure was getting to her because such a silly question caused her to choke up.

What's going on? I personaly like hillary, but someone has changed the story.

Mike, Boston,

Hillary Clinton is an experienced politician. Barack Obama may be a good guy but he is inexperienced and, so far, no-one knows what he stands for, especially regarding foreign policy. It's all very well saying that troops must be brought back from Iraq but what about the global scene? Surely, logic must dictate that experience is all.

leila , manchester, uk

Women have got their way by crying for thousands of years - nothing new has happened here.

John Tomlinson, Brentwood, UK

Mrs Clinton used her teary moment to bolster her campaign and then twenty seconds later went on the offensive. She probably had a bag of onions hidden under the table.

Max Rodgers, Chicago, Illinois

As a citizen of the United States, I'd sure hate to have a President who cries because things get to be too hard.

Lizzie, Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

Well done, Hillary. She has more depth, character and experience than Sen Obama who calls for change without knowing how to put that change into effect. Ironically the best person to change anything is someone who knows how the old system works.

I knew Hillary would prosper when the voting came down to ordinary members of the public rather than political activists as it was in Iowa. She appeals to a broader section of society than Obama and having picked up 45% of registered Democrat votes as opposed to 34% for Barack, she only stands to gain in the coming weeks. If he plays to the African-American gallery he only stands to alienate white voters. If he tries to argue for change Hillary can still point to her record on effecting change. Obama would make a good VP and President in 2016 but for now he is no longer looking so watertight and Clinton can now consolidate her position. GOOD LUCK, HILLARY!

Louise Hartley, Reading, UK

Go Hillary win these primaries and then the White house the world needs an American president who is normal bright and intelligent !!
Go Hillary and bring back the honour that the U.S is lacking for so long.

David Shulman, Tel Aviv, Israel

Her narrow margin of victory in New Hampshire is hardly a mandate or convincing return to the lead.

It's troubling that someone vying for the most important job in this country would get a little weepy in public when things aren't going her way. Not inspiring.

James, Washington, DC

Well those of us outside the US of A who've been following the Presidential elections, feel that Hillary is cut for the job with her vast experience in this Circus called Politics.
Obama sure has Charisma, and the rhetoric he's built around his "Campaign of Change" well, cannot last long.
People of America are mature enough to realize that you don't need people giving you false hopes, just because you can make good speeches.
And maturity and experience does count in the long run.... which Clinton has and Obama doesn't.

Vivek, London, UK

Excellent, never mind their political message or ideas! All that matters is a brief trembling voice. My faith in the world is restored.

So these alleged women suddenly think, "Gee shucks, I guess she is affected by her emotions like everyone else! That's the most important issue to me, because it totally changes everything to the point I'd change my voting intentions!"

I'm sure no-one else in the race ever suffers from their emotions.

Just as well these elections don't have any significance, it's not like we could be potentially looking at the most powerful person by the end of the year, in a country burdened with Iraq and a potential looming recession. Oh, wait...

Ridiculous. And this is from someone who's quite a Hillary fan.

David Smith, Leicester, United Kingdom

Regardless of what, she has my vote 100%!!!

Her husband was a "great' President, for two terms. Many people loved Bill! He did a great job.

Hillary, has the experience in order to both do, and get the job done. As far as I'm concerned. She's strong willed, and she is determined to turn things around as they should be.

This is "not" the time to put a novice in the White House. We need someone with experience. Well, since Al Gore refuses to run. Than Hillary will do very nicely, thank you!

Hillary..."You go girl"!!! You have many supporters, world wide!

Tucker, Trenton, USA

Also, Hillary has Welsh blood - and proud of it. She would have my vote - if I had one!

Andrew Lewis, Cardiff,