Some Kiwis find U.S politics more enticing

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Many New Zealanders are more interested in the upcoming U.S. contest than in their own parliamentary election, a poll released Sunday finds.

Research New Zealand reports that 14 percent of those surveyed said they care more about whether Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama becomes U.S. president than whether Helen Clark remains prime minister. New Zealanders vote next weekend and Clark's Labor Party is trailing the National Party led by John Key in the polls.

The survey found that interest in the U.S. race is highest among New Zealand city-dwellers. While 31 percent of those in cities found the U.S. race at least as interesting as the New Zealand one, only 23 percent in rural areas did.

Voters with relatively high incomes were more likely to be interested in the New Zealand election.

Clark has been prime minister since 1999.