Excited by Clinton-Obama Contest, Democrats Vote Abroad

LONDON — Americans seeking a change in foreign policy and a new national image abroad flocked to churches in Rome, town halls in England, and an Irish pub in Hong Kong yesterday to vote in a Democrats Abroad primary.

The voting will determine who gets the 11 votes allocated to Democrats Abroad at the Democratic National Convention in August. The group is allowing online voting — a first for voters overseas — that will continue for one week. Republicans, meanwhile, made their Super Tuesday choices known through absentee ballots and predicted their party would unite behind whomever is nominated and keep control of the White House.

Americans voting overseas yesterday said they were particularly influenced by the candidates' foreign policy credentials. Democrats said they wanted a president who would steer America away from the Bush administration's foreign policies, which have alienated many allies.