The challenger: If Kerry wins, the days of US unilateralism will be over, predicts Deaglan de Breadun in Boston.
This US presidential election is special.
Elections in Ireland tend to be heavily dominated by personalities. The differences between the parties, especially since we joined the European Union, have shrunk considerably. In the US, the issues seem to matter more and the differences appear more clear-cut.
There are two strong personalities in contention, of course, and there has been an unremitting focus on their private lives and peccadilloes, as well as the private lives of their families.
Even the contrasting personalities of the presidential spouses have been highlighted: quiet-spoken, reserved Laura Bush versus feisty, in-your-face Teresa Heinz Kerry.
For good or ill, we all know George Bush by now.
He held his nerve after 9/11, then had to go and spoil it all for many people by invading Iraq.
History may look kindly on him for getting rid of Saddam Hussein but will likely fault the 43rd president for "doing the war on the cheap" and failing to commit sufficient resources to stabilise the country and institute a secure democracy after the fall of the Baghdad regime.
Less is known in Ireland of the challenger, Senator John Kerry, but the man is full of surprises. For one thing, despite the name and the long-held and uncorrected assumptions of even the local media in his home state of Massachusetts, he has no known connection with Ireland (one may be found if he wins).
His forebears were central European Jews who converted to Catholicism and changed the family name from Kohn to Kerry - legend has it that they saw Co Kerry on a map of Ireland and liked the name.
Kerry's long career in the US Senate has attracted little media attention in Ireland but the record shows him to be a serious and thoughtful politician who can spend an inordinate amount of time teasing out the issues.
Since there is at least a 50/50 chance that he could be elected to the White House this week, what kind of president would he make? The overall impression is of a centrist who moves cautiously and likes to build consensus around the issues.
The days of unilateral action will be over, at least for the time being, if Kerry gets to power. He has made great play of his plans to bring America's traditional allies to the table and clearly envisions that, as well as Tony Blair, he would have Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schröder sitting with him to figure out how to deal with Iraq.
Some media people are predicting a Kerry victory but they may be thinking with their heart rather than their head. There is a Republican slogan: "Annoy the media: re-elect Bush."