Moreover, the foreign policy positions of the two candidates in the campaign were not all that different. Governor Bush advocates a more cautious approach to involvement in humanitarian crises where the US national interest is not clearly involved but responses to such situations are difficult to predict in advance. After all, it was his father who first sent troops into Somalia in l992. Mr. Bush also has ambitious plans to cut offensive nuclear weapons and to deploy missile defences but implementation will require congressional approval. Finally, the key foreign policy advisers for both sides came mainly from the middle of the political spectrum and the need for Senate confirmation makes it likely that nominees for high positions will come from the centre.
Clear victories are much better than ties in democratic elections.
But in spite of the partisan wrangling, the virtual tie in 2000 is a reminder that the majority of American opinion remains firmly in the middle of the political spectrum. The drawn-out process of resolving the tie has been costly for US institutions and will create difficulties for the new president. But in the larger picture, it is unlikely to do grave damage to America's role in the world.