US elections: Your suggestions

Outlandish alternatives to the TV debate have been suggested

The extraordinary process of choosing the world's most powerful leader has led to a mixture of bewilderment and derision in the international media and become the number one talking point in the United States.

On talk radio stations across the nation, all other subjects have been eclipsed and none more so than in Florida - the state that holds the key to the White House.

Some callers have described the ballot as a state-wide embarrassment, with one telling listeners: "We are proud of Disney World, we are proud of a lot of things in the state - this is one that we are really not proud of."

The answer is obviously paper, scissors, stone

Toby Nichols

But while the serious debate of finding a solution rages across America, BBC News Online readers have been offering their own tongue-in-cheek suggestions for a way out of the quagmire.

P Swaddle from Boston on America's east coast has suggested a novel answer.

"In true American style, they should have a chocolate-chip cookie eating contest," he writes. "The one who reaches the average American voter's weight first (about 220lbs) wins."

This ballot paper confused many

And Toby Nichols from the UK has another irreverent idea.

"The answer is obviously paper, scissors, stone. Let's say best of three?"

Other parlour games have been suggested, and James Dawkins, again from the UK, sees a media contest as one way of settling the battle.

"How about a TV quiz show - Who wants to be the president?" he told News Online. "The man who can name the most foreign politicians wins. Easy!"

Some of the more extreme suggestions include a shoot-out at OK Coral and a televised wrestling match.

Recounting the vote in Miami, Florida

More sober ideas include a job share or a guest president every week.

At least one UK citizen wants US independence to be revoked with taxes due to London backdated to 1776

An e-mail from someone signing himself only as Charlie warns that "the candidate who's less likely to fall asleep at his desk and accidentally press the red button should win."

And finally, one reader who writes in as A Cynic, suggests this radical idea: "Have a nationwide vote where the most popular candidate loses. Then scrap the nationwide result in favour of one chosen state.

"Have a ballot in which half the populace can't understand the ballot paper then lose the remaining ballot boxes.

"Whoever gains a simple majority of the remaining three votes wins."