Here comes sweet November! The time to choose the "one" who will rule America is not very far away. It takes a lot of wise Americans to choose the most powerful man in the world.

Year 2004 might as well be the "year of big elections". Be it the decisive Spain polls, the shocking Indian polls, the extremely predictable Russian or the listless Sri Lankan elections, it is "make your pick time" for half of the world population.

The wise say, "Never be afraid of change, as professionals built the Titanic but an amateur built the Ark." But looks like a lot of people are daring these days, desperate for a "change". Be it the angry Spanish who were loud enough to say that 'we don't want a Government which cares for US more than us!'. All that followed was a strikingly scary mandate, which swept the Government away.

Everyone was jolted when the 'India Shining' campaign fell flat, broke its back and ripped off the honour of the honourable Indian Government. The reason being that people wanted change; a change from the existing life hinting that contentment is more fangled with the present generation than it was earlier.

Afghanistan, Iraq and outsourcing rule the issues for the one and only November Presidential polls of America. The November Presidential polls have given out mixed reactions, mixed opinions and mixed feelings. Moreover, fate!

George W Bush made his entry to the White House in the closest ever election of modern history. His early populist achievements like the extremely massive tax cut in the early days of his rule were soon masked by the deadly September 11 attacks. And the rest of the assaults that followed were hardly recognised in his "favour".

Economic growth has always been the key issue to many voters especially in America, starting from the election of Franklin Roosevelt during the times of great depression. Bill Clinton, all the jokes and jeers apart, is still seen as the man behind the "good times" of the country.

"Fortune favours the American ruler" is a gospel truth. And as predicted, the economic recovery picked up. The result, since March payrolls have expanded by a massive one million! But yet they are no comparison to the mammoth promises of John Kerry, which stands at generating 10 million new jobs.

Kerry's side of the story is simple. Everything of Bush from the Afghan war, Iraq war or his favourite outsourcing, is a "big blunder". His famous line where he says, "We shouldn't be opening firehouses in Baghdad and closing them in Brooklyn," shows what he thinks of American homeland security. His six-point plan on Defence ensures that Americans are safer, stronger and more secure on homeland. His enlightened self-interest foreign policy has baffled many.

Two major wars behind, outsourcing issue in the forefront; and a moon mission, which is to materialise in 2020; so much for a President who won by a meagre margin!

You fought many wars Mr Bush, but can you win over the American voters?