Throughout Asia people struggled yesterday to understand how Florida, home of Miami Vice and Disney World, had plunged the much-vaunted US democratic system into confusion and paralysis.
American expatriates, for their part, marvelled that a few hundred of their number from the US Sunshine State, working in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong or Singapore, might help decide through their absentee ballots the next leader of the world's most powerful country.
In Beijing it had all seemed so simple the day before, when about 2,000 Chinese students, teachers and officials took part in a mock election. The exercise was organised by the US embassy and the American Chamber of Commerce, seizing the opportunity - in a country where leaders are not elected by the people - to plunge into democratic politics.
If Beijing were a Florida county, the US Vice-President might have been home and dry by yesterday morning, as the final count was Mr Al Gore 762, Governor George W. Bush 396, Mr Ralph Nader 23 and Mr Patrick Buchanan two.
In Asia, the overnight US drama was played out in daytime, and many people and newspapers remained fixated on the developing news yesterday. In a commentary comparing the election to a Hollywood script, the foreign editor of the Australian, Greg Sheridan, wrote: "Give me a Valium, give me a drink, give me a break."
Office workers in Asian capitals followed the election drama on the Internet, tourists stayed in hotel rooms to watch cable television, and government meetings were interrupted with updated news.
In some capitals there was apprehension about Mr Bush's suitability to handle Asian affairs. Dr Eden Woon, director of Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, noted he was not familiar with Asian leaders and said: "I would advise, if I were his adviser, an early trip out to Asia."
In non-democratic Asian countries such as Burma (Myanmar) and Vietnam there was quiet official support for Mr Bush, as a Republican president is less likely to push human rights issues.
The Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has special reasons for hoping Mr Gore would lose, as the Vice-President upset him two years ago in Kuala Lumpur by brazenly supporting the reformasi opposition movement.
With China joining the World Trade Organisation, it matters more to the new generation of Chinese business people who takes the White House, so this election was followed with more than usual interest among Beijing's informed middle class.
Many remember that Governor Bush's father was ambassador to China two decades ago and favourable to doing business with China, but they also know that George W. Bush is more sympathetic to Taiwan.
Mr Gore belongs to an administration which sees China as a strategic partner, but during the election campaign Mr Bush said "China is a competitor, not a strategic partner. We must deal with China without ill will, but without illusions".
On the other hand Mr Gore has to take account of unions which helped him and which oppose normal trade relations with China because of loss of jobs in the US.