Donald Trump pic © Michael Vadon. Hillary Clinton pic © Lorie Shaull. Images via Wikimedia Commons
Americans go to the polls on Tuesday to elect their president after one of the most bitter and divisive campaigns in living memory.
Either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump will be elected as the 45th President of the United States to take over from Barack Obama early next year, following a bad-tempered and controversial build-up that has at times seemed more like a reality show contest than an election.
Whether Democrat nominee Clinton follows her husband Bill into the White House or Republican representative Trump takes the reigns of power, the ramifications for the rest of the world are significant.
We took to the streets of Liverpool this week to ask the public what they think of the US election as the decisive hours loom across the Atlantic.
YouTube: Andrew Livingston, JMU Journalism
Scroll through the edited comments below for more responses in our survey.
Reporting by: Sam Heyhirst; David Purcell; Andrew Cook; Hollie Hayes; Josh Hodge; Laura Hughes; Aaliyah Rugg; Rosie Steedman; Andrew Livingston; Gabrielle Walsh & Emma White.
Lucy McMurtrie, 19, Liverpool
“It is all a fix, I don’t believe everything about it. America politics can be corrupt. I believe Trump is unbelievably stupid and I don’t see how everyone is following his steps.”
John McNulty, 56, Bootle
“I wouldn’t put any one of them in charge, Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump. The two of them are war mongers, but if I was to pick one I would go for Trump. I think it’s going to go pear-shaped whoever wins. Hillary’s husband was the same, he went to war with anyone. They’re not happy unless they go to war. I would have Trump before her, but really the two of them are baddies.”
John Hunter, 22, Preston
“I have been following it quite closely, and to be honest it has become more of a sport now than a political election. It’s pretty insane that it has gotten this far. I would vote for Hillary, although I don’t think she would be the better leader, but I think to be honest a lot of the debate has been based around him [Trump] anyway.”
Kayleigh Dodd, 28, New Zealand
“It’s just a reality TV show. Ideally I would like Barack Obama back, but I’d vote Clinton. I don’t know anybody in their right mind who would vote for Trump.”
Marco Palumbo, 43, Italy
“I think it’s quite an important election debate but now it’s gone too far. It’s going to have quite huge consequences no matter what, but if I had to pick anybody it would have to be Clinton.”
Gemma Galloway, 19, Warrington
“Well I put a bet on Bernie Sanders to win 50p on it, but that’s not going to happen is it? If I was going to vote it’d probably be Hillary.”
William Duncan Blyth, 75, Fort William
“It’s a very lively thing. One is a crook and one is moneybags! I have been to the States a long time ago and I think this country is slowly going to be like it. I was in the Marines for 25 years and I would not like to be the one who has to push the button, if anyone has to.”
Leonard Brown, 19, Bootle
“I don’t care massively, it shouldn’t affect us as much because we are in the UK and they are over the water, so we shouldn’t be so bothered about it, even though everyone is talking about it.”
Kieran Dooley, 22, Liverpool
“I haven’t been following the election loads, although I think it does have an effect on our future. I would prefer anyone to win it other than Trump… Hillary has to win it.”
Hannah Morgan, 19, West Derby
“Trump cannot win, he just can’t. All he has said in the past year or so is claim he wants to ‘make America great again’ but has no firm plans or policies in place to make that happen. On the other hand, I wouldn’t be that overjoyed if Hillary won either… I’d be just happy that bigot didn’t win.”
Alan King, 59, Birkenhead
“I haven’t been paying that much attention to the coverage but if I had to pick one of the two [candidates] it would be Clinton, but only because Trump is worse.”
Marie Fitzpatrick, 31, Liverpool
“I don’t think we should really be interfering with their election, to be honest. But Hillary will probably win in the end, there’s no way that Trump gets in.”
Robert Quinn, 27, St Helens
“I like what Trump’s doing over there. It’s something different, isn’t it? Politics has been boring for far too long, at least with him you get a character.”
Frank Davis, 61, Liverpool
“Why do we care? Leave them to squabble about it. We’ll be fine.”
John Staples, 63, Huyton
“It’s frightening. I’m not quite political so I’m rather impartial, but the way it’s going I’m saying Clinton is going to win. The whole election process is a joke – it’s a fight between two personalities rather than two political figures.”
Claire Durney, 30, Allerton
“I think it’s ridiculous how people can favour Trump. To say how he could potentially lead America… he has a disturbing attitude against women and who would want to vote for him is beyond me.”
Phil Judson, 20, Warrington
“I genuinely think this is the worst thing that could happen to America. Since Obama being elected in 2008, I felt America was stepping up but now having a reality TV star like Trump as a candidate it’s slipping back to its old ways.”
Zara Rawlinson, 26, Prescot
“I’m not too fussed as it doesn’t directly affect me, I hope. I think I’d side more with Hillary because she’s a woman. It could be a good change seeing a woman president, but as a candidate I don’t think she’s that good.”
Elaine Williams, 44, Whiston
“I’m really intrigued about the outcome. I have a horrible feeling Trump will win but we’ll have to see what happens.”
Pat Welsh, 70, Liverpool
“It’s a bit of a farce really. It’s like picking between the lesser of two evils. I’d probably choose Clinton.”
Drew Hinshelwood, 22, Liverpool
“Obviously it’s a bigger deal in America, but the winner will lead the free world and have a strong influence on what happens in England. I would be scared if Trump wins.”
Sam Ashworth, 21, Blackpool
“I care about the election a lot because whoever is in charge of the US has a major role to play in the world. That’s why the right president needs to be picked, not only for them but for the whole world.”
Joseph Stringfellow, 50, Sacramento USA
“It’s terrible. As for us it’s a country of 250 million people and we only have those two to choose from. There’s something wrong there, isn’t there? We want to start afresh, get rid of all the corruption and the bad politicians and start afresh. That’s why me and my mates are going with Trump to try something new. If it doesn’t work then at least we tried.”
Diana Eleanor, 26, York
“I don’t think a lot about it, but it will definitely badly affect the rest of the world if Trump gets in. I wouldn’t vote for him. He has crazy ideas.”