Big election audience among Tauranga's Americans

Americans living in Tauranga were glued to their televisions and computers as the results of the 2012 United States election came in yesterday.

President Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term after a tight race with Republican candidate Mitt Romney.

Most of those spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times last night were disappointed with the result, but the owner of the Stars and Stripes Diner in Papamoa said he was pleased.

Originally from Ohio but living in New Zealand for the past 44 years, Dick Hansen said he had been undecided about which candidate he preferred until recently.

"I was sitting on the fence until I heard those comments that the banks would prefer Romney and I thought 'here we go again'."

Mr Hansen said opinion had been divided among the Americans he knew in the Bay of Plenty.

"A lot of the Americans that I get in here are on the religious side and there's a lot of things about Obama that disturbs them."

Thirty-five-year-old missionary Nathan Buchanan watched the election results come in on his mobile device from his home in Bethlehem.

While not a strong supporter of either candidate, Mr Buchanan had wanted Romney to win.

"Romney was not my first choice but I think he would have likely done a better job than Obama," he said.

Mr Buchanan's support of Romney had been more to do with his Christian beliefs than his political views.

While Romney's strong Mormon faith had been problematic for many American Christians, the Republican candidate was seen as more conservative than the President.

"I think that Romney would lead from a more biblical perspective than Obama.

"I believe that the actions of Obama do not point to a true Christian faith."

Obama's support of abortion and homosexual marriage were two major points that had lost him support from many American Christians, Mr Buchanan said.

Mary Nelson, an administrator at South Pacific Bible College in Otumoetai, has been in New Zealand 16 years and did not vote in this year's elections.

Mrs Nelson said she had wanted Obama out of the presidency more than she wanted Romney in. "It's not exactly been a glorious four years, his inexperience as a leader really showed. There's a lot of questions about debt and about the recent death of the ambassador in Libya."

Andrew Gearhart, a pastor at Otumoetai Church of Christ, felt indifferent to the election result.

"It seems both of them stand for some good things and some things that aren't so good."

Obama's election in 2008 had been a historical moment but the last four years had taken the shine off the president, he said.

"Last election was a big deal because he was the first black president but this time people aren't so enamoured with that."