German papers focus almost exclusively on a single topic Monday: The presidential elections in the United States. Almost all papers lead with large election-related color photos and articles about the latest intrigues or small poll blips that may decide who becomes the world's most powerful man. The recently-released Osama bin Laden video gets hands down top billing, with commentators on all sides trying to decipher the tape's message and what effect it might have on the vote. Commentators also spend much ink begging Washington to look more kindly at Europe and explaining how important Europe's voice is for world matters.

"Just in time for Halloween, bin Laden comes knocking on America's door to remind people of his presence," writes the conservative daily Die Welt. "He's not come for trick-or-treating, but wants attention. He wants to influence the outcome of the election. But he won't succeed. His performance is too absurd, too far removed from reality in his attempt to appear an equal opponent next to President (George W.) Bush." The paper concludes that bin Laden comes off looking foolish rather than all-powerful and indestructible. "Bin Laden is on the defensive. He is weaker than ever and his message was spoken into the wind."

The Financial Times Deutschland agrees, noting however, that if bin Laden's goal was to provoke the American people by reminding them that he is still free and potentially dangerous just before the election, then he has "succeeded." Still, the paper says, the video will have no effect. Each side will simply use it to bolster their own candidate. "Bush voters will see their view confirmed that the fight against terror must continue unchanged. Kerry voters see the video as further evidence of the Bush government's failure."

Although Germans are anxious for America, much of their concern is also selfish. They want John Kerry to win because they think he would be a better friend to Europe. Polls show close to 70 percent of Germans are rooting for Kerry. To clarify matters, Germany's most-read paper, the tabloid Bild, carries a full-page spread headlined "Bush vs. Kerry! Who is better for us?" The article poses eight questions to 16 experts. Sample questions include: What will happen to oil prices in a Bush or Kerry win? How about the euro? Will the world be safer with either man? Will German soldiers soon have to go to Iraq? And who gets along better with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder? Answer: Probably Kerry. "The US president's relationship with the chancellor is decimated," writes Bild. "Bush's animosity towards Schroeder and Schroeder's animosity towards Bush will not change." The dispute between the two leaders started in 2002 when Schroeder pinned his re-election campaign on Germany's refusal to send troops to Iraq.

Financial daily Handelsblatt also says most Europeans are drawing the "wrong conclusions" by hoping a Kerry win will bring a "weaker America" that is more amenable to befriending and including Europe in its decision-making. "We shouldn't wish less leadership from the next US president in the fight against Islamic terror, but more. Osama bin Laden's newest video shows the immediacy of the danger. The real mistakes of the 'Bushists' were not their claim to leadership, but their inability to muster a willing coalition against a universal enemy." The world would be better off if there were "not less, but more leadership" both from Washington and from "Old Europe," the paper says. It adds, regardless of who wins, "the next president will have to solve problems in the next four years that are even bigger than the ones of the four years past. He should make those decisions together with Europe."

Die Welt also calls for a "more constructive balance" between Washington and Europe but says Washington is not all to blame. While America has tested the limits of its power, Europe has been "blocking itself in its own weakness" That has to change, the paper says.

The influential weekly Die Zeit chronicles what it sees as the natural rise of America as the world's soul superpower since the end of the Cold War and how Sept. 11 united and then split the world again. Not only did Iraq explode but nothing was done to stop the ever-swelling violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Now, says the paper, it is time to clean up. "Together with Europe, the next US administration has to come up with a peace plan for the long ignored problem of Israel and Palestine." And, in the same way America helped rebuild Germany after World War II, so must America and Europe create a "Marshall Plan" for Iraq, the paper says.