For many Australians, the unfolding American election may seem like a badly-made movie, with a loud-mouthed businessman and television personality as the leading man for one of the country’s major political parties.
The general election in November is shaping up to see Republican front runner Donald Trump take on Democrat favourite Hillary Clinton.
While the race is far, far from over, some local residents have already made up their minds on who should be the next American president.
Milton resident Nicole Woodford, who has lived in the United States and is married to American David DelTufo, said, while most of her friends in America were appalled by Mr Trump, some really supported him.
“I think his appeal is that he is not being backed by big money and so he gives the impression of having no hidden agenda,” she said.
“He is paying for his own campaign.
“I also think he articulates what a lot of his supporters may not want to articulate for themselves for fear of condemnation.
“He is very divisive and I think it would be terrible for him to be elected, especially since once he won the presidency he would have to be more of an inclusive thinker which doesn't seem possible for him.”
Nicole doesn’t believe it would be possible for Trump to be president because “he is so confrontational and unbending that nothing could ever be achieved”.
“I think his presidency would divide America and isolate the country from the world,” she added.
“America would be in danger of becoming irrelevant and a laughing stock.”
She said the top job needs someone “fairly dynamic and energetic”.
“I like Hillary's politics but I really struggle with her playing the feminist card when she fully participated in the complete vilification of Monica Lewinsky while Bill (Clinton) walked off like a Teflon man,” she said.
“Monica was, after all, a very young woman who was seduced by a very powerful man who should have had more integrity.
“This event ruins a young woman's life while Bill and Hilary went from strength to strength.
“If that's the path Hilary chose then that is her prerogative but you can't then use the whole feminist thing to further your career when it suits.
“Having said all this though, I would probably vote for Hillary.
“She seems to be a moderate voice of reason.”
Anita Kelly-Ahmadizadeh studied the phenomenon of "populism" in uni and compared Trump to Pauline Hanson.
“She appealed to people's fear of immigrants, but ultimately didn't get very far,” she said.
Is the world ready for a female American president?
- Anita Kelly-Ahmadizadeh
“The problem with Trump in America is that they don't have compulsory voting which often sees many people left out and can end in elections being unbalanced.
“I keep looking at him on TV and asking the same question, is he for real?
“I think that the Obama administration is the closest thing to world peace that we will ever see in our lifetime”.
Anita said Trump was using his celebrity power to generate interest and dominate.
“I would like to see Hillary Clinton in power, but is the world ready for a female American president?”
