Democratic Gains Wouldn't Affect Relations With Canada, Says U.S. Ambassador

Polls suggest the Democrats are poised to regain control of the House of Representatives and have a chance with the Republican-dominated Senate. For the first time in a quarter century, the former South Carolina speaker will be watching the election results not as an elected Republican official. "It'll be different to watch it a little bit from afar and no longer as an elected official but as an ambassador," he later told reporters, confirming that he plans to remain in Canada until Bush's term ends in January 2009. "But my interest in (politics) has not waned." Wilkins is one of an estimated 750,000 Americans living in Canada who are eligible to vote in the election. The closeness of recent presidential campaigns has prompted a growing number of expatriates to cast ballots, say representatives of both political parties. "In close races, I think we can have a big impact," said Toby Condliffe, chairman of Democrats Abroad in Canada, the largest and most active of 78 chapters around the world. http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=25cc4c1d-1ea2-4e53-a9aa-8454027fc34f&k=77575

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