A Bermudian is challenging leading politicians Hillary Clinton and John McCain in their 2008 bid for the US presidency.

Christopher Popham Smith was born in America but lived here until the age of 14 with his father Colin, an executive with the Bank of Butterfield. He continued to travel to the island after his return to the US to visit with family and friends, all of whom "couldn't be more thrilled" with his decision to run.

"My father Colin worked at the Bank of Butterfield for 43 years," the 61 year old told the Mid-Ocean News in an interview conducted in the midst of canvassing.

"His younger brother Wilbur was the radio announcer ('Wakey Wakey') Smith and a shop owner on Front Street for many years. My cousins are Judyann, who is married to (former chief executive officer of the Bank of Butterfield) Henry Smith, and Susan, who's married to Derek Sickling, a retired executive at Belco.

"I've just returned from five wonderful days in Bermuda, sharing this news with family and old friends. They're all rather proud of me."

Mr. Smith has an Associate's degree in Business Administration from Bryant & Stratton College and a Bachelor's degree in French, from Suffolk University.

For the past 45 years he has lived in Boston's Beacon Hill community, and run a company which provides "catering, construction, concierge services, primary health care and consulting to executives and professionals".

The decision to run for president followed on careful consideration ¿ and the insistence of a trusted group of patriots. Mr. Smith subsequently formed the One America Party and embarked upon two road trips across America to determine the issues most important to voters.

"I've spent 35 years strategising and planning," he stated. "Some (members of his group) asked me six months ago if I would consider running and I said no. After 35 years I wanted to wait and see who got in and then offer them my ideas of how best to get America back on the right track. (The members) said no, that there was no one else willing to step up to the plate and do what I am going to do.

"I'm very passionate about this. I know what I'm doing ¿ I've researched and strategised for 35 years and I've interviewed over 500 Americans in the last five or six months and they've been so clear: Please concentrate on the United States of America for a change. We need to fix our infrastructure, we need a new tax code, we need to improve our education ¿ but the conversations mostly centred around Iraq."

The One America Party will place issues important to Americans before matters affecting countries around the world, Mr. Smith insisted.

"Its sole focus is on the United States of America and the 300 million people who live here ¿ nothing else. Not Europe, not the Middle East, not Africa, just America for a change. What I am going to do as president of the United States is very different to what the eight (other hopefuls) will do, assuming they're worthy enough to sit in the Oval Office. No one I've spoken to thinks they are. And they're thrilled that someone has the nerve to take them on."

His aim is to avoid the political backbiting now evidenced between the Democratic and Republican candidates.

"The Democrats and Republicans, on a daily basis, are exchanging abrasive remarks and the American people have had it. I'm not perfect. I'm a polymath like Aristotle and Leonardo da Vinci, Omar Khayam and the man who inspires me the most ¿ who was (great friends) with my stepmother ¿ Sir Winston Churchill. And when I meet people on the street I say, 'If you're an eligible voter step up to the plate with me and help me govern this great nation'."

If he is elected, one of his first acts will be to bring the US troops home, Mr. Smith stated.

"Of primary concern to the 500 or more Americans interviewed on my trips and here in Boston, is Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East. I will get us out. It won't be overnight, but I intend to bring 75,000 to 100,000 home and deploy them along our northern and southern borders that are very poorly monitored.

"We are now more open to infiltration than ever before."

Should he fail in his bid, his hope is to continue serving as "a voice for the people of America".

Said Mr. Smith: "A lot of people have said I might start a TV or a radio programme. At the very least, I will be a voice for the 500 people I've spoken with over the last few months. I'm going to sweep the nation with my vision."

The US election will be held on November 4, 2008.