Sometimes to really understand something you have to get the "30,000-foot view."

Raslan Sharif of the Malaysia Star gives us a 9,000-mile view of the U.S. presidential primaries. He sees a circus.

Not surprisingly, the unifying theme of his commentary on political candidates is clowns:

"People might laugh at the antics of the clowns in a circus, but it’s unlikely they look up to such from buffoons outside the fairground."

Shocked at Romney's spending (205.9 million rupees!) -- only to come in second in two states, Sharif offers another lesson from the election circus: "More proof that while it helps to have some, money can’t buy you everything."