He had heard of Ireland of course, but was vague on specifics.

For example — "What sort of people live there?" he asked.

When it was obvious I was struggling to answer his inquiry he offered some guidance.

"I mean like, are there a lot of Irish people living there?"

When I assured him that there were indeed, he was delighted. He liked Irish people, he said, because his neighbour who was "100% Irish" was a great guy. The 100% Irish neighbour was called something like Mr Kalpinsky.

The man from Iowa and his wife are far from being stupid people. But they do reflect an undeniable trait of the American nation. They have a spectacularly parochial view of the world.

As the US gears up to choose the man who will be — as the papers always put it — the most powerful man on earth, over here in Europe we tend to get our information on political trends over there from the professional analysts and opinion poll experts.

Which is why it's so fascinating to hear from a pair of ordinary punters who will help make that prodigious choice.

Being Democrats, the couple from Iowa had little time for George Bush. (When I told them he'd been over in our neighbourhood just last week they stared at me like I was making this up.)

Iraq and Afghanistan constitute their only interest in American foreign affairs. They believe Bush went into Iraq for oil but actually don't appear to feel this reflects badly upon him. They are much more critical of his inability to get back out again.

But they also believe passionately that the problem of Osama bin Laden must be attended to. "Where is he? Where is Osama?" the man kept asking as if I might be able to supply answers.

They are a hard-working couple who put in long hours to help keep an expanding family.

One of their daughters recently gave birth to an obviously adored little granddaughter. The boyfriend, the mother explained, wasn't a big help adding, and she cupped her hand around her mouth: "He's black."

When I didn't respond to this she quickly pointed out that this did not make him a bad person of course. But well, you know ...

I'm not sure I do know what point she was trying to make. But it didn't sound like a vote for Obama.

Were they being racist, bigots? I've no idea. Later in the conversation the man raved about his all-time sporting hero Tiger Woods. But then, maybe supporting a black man on the golf course is very different to voting to put one in the White House. Even if Obama with his white mother and black father shares the same racial mix as their adored grandchild.

The pair did say that despite being Democrats they were drawn to John McCain. This because he was a military man — "And you know what he's for."

Hillary was out of the picture for them in every sense. "Can't stand her," the woman said, "Couldn't even tell you why. But I really can't stand her." (I had to agree at this point.)

And Obama? "What's he for?" asked the man, "That's the thing. We just don't know what he's for."

And maybe that's the thing — not his skin colour — that will count against Obama most with the likes of our man from Iowa.

They've heard of him all right. The problem is that his policies, a bit like Northern Ireland and its Troubles, simply hasn't registered on their radar.