'Bronco Bamma, Mitt Romney' make girl cry

2012-11-02 08:23

A screen grab of a crying Abigael taken from YouTube.

Washington - A 4-year-old girl caught on camera crying her eyes out in frustration at "Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney" has hit a chord with millions of election-weary Americans.

The video - posted on YouTube by her mother on Tuesday - has garnered more than 2 million views and countless Twitter comments from Americans brought close to tears by relentless campaigning leading up to Tuesday's presidential vote.

"I'm tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney," Abigael, wearing a pink 'Hello Kitty' coat, tells her mother as tears stream down her face.

"That's why you're crying? Oh, it'll be over soon Abby, OK? The election will be over soon," her mother is heard saying on camera, as the girl hiccups and unhappily replies: "OK."

Her distress has resonated with many Americans as the two presidential candidates hit the home stretch of a months-long, intense campaign that has seen a barrage of television and radio commercials, as well as newspaper articles.

Little Abigael was reportedly brought to tears when she heard one commercial too many on NPR on the way to the grocery store, and the public broadcaster has since apologised to her.

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"Oh my goodness, do we feel bad now... On behalf of NPR and all other news outlets, we apologise to Abigael and all the many others who probably feel like her," it said in a tongue-and-cheek blog post on its website.

"We must confess, the campaign's gone on long enough for us, too. Let's just keep telling ourselves: 'Only a few more days, only a few more days, only a few more days'."

Abigael has since become somewhat of a celebrity. CNN did a piece on her Thursday and the Twittersphere has united in sympathy.

"I feel ya, Abby. I'm tired of Bronco Bamma and Mitt Romney too," @Mikelmhof tweeted.

Several reporters have also replaced their profile pictures with her photo. "Election day's almost here, but if you feel like Abby, join us in solidarity," said @Chris_Moody, a widely followed political reporter for Yahoo! News.

- AFP