IT seemed an innocuous comment about an election several thousand miles away.

However, Romsey MP Sandra Gidley has enraged Americans with her Internet statements about George Bush's re-election to the White House.

The Lib Dem spokesman for older people and women wrote on her website diary: "I find it totally incomprehensible that a thinking public should re-elect him at all."

In a matter of hours she was bombarded with more than 50 messages, many from furious Americans. Ranging from the abusive to the witty to the plain-speaking, the e-mails flooded in from all parts of the States.

Less than 12 hours later backbencher Mrs Gidley posted another diary entry on her website, called a 'blog'.

It read: "I was somewhat taken aback by the comments on the previous post - hey guys, it was only an opinion! Am new to this blog lark but I realised that I had effectively been 'flamed'.

"What I will concede is that I was not entirely surprised by the result but was surprised by the strength of the popular vote, and being a Brit I struggle to understand it."

The website, www.romseyred-head.blogspot.com, was only launched two months ago by former chemist Mrs Gidley.

Every day she uploads diary extracts onto the Internet, ranging from her opinions on the gambling bill to her thoughts about Saturday night pop competition, X-Factor.

The election 'post', added at 11.43am on Wednesday, said: "I have made it clear that I wanted Kerry to win but I was never sure that he could actually pull it off.

"I always thought that it would be very close but what has really depressed me is the huge increase in the popular vote for Bush. I find it totally incomprehensible that a thinking public should re-elect him at all. Can't see that there's much sport to be had in Prime Minister's Question Time on the back of this."

A spokesman from the London-based American Embassy told the Daily Echo: "Many Americans may have taken offence but I would be very surprised if, upon reading the subsequent comment, they would think anything other than that she is a thinking person interested in engagement and discussion.

"I take a very American perspective on this whole thing. While my countrymen may be angered or may disagree with the opinion, it's our belief that every individual should have freedom to say what they think."

Some of the comments...

Some of the (milder) reactions to Mrs Gidley's election comment:

"It's so typical of you libtards to denounce those who have different opinions to your own as bereft of intelligence. Go to hell."

"Who elected you as Empress, for you to pass judgement on an entire population in another land, from the ivory tower of your abysmal ignorance?"

"You sound like the Liberal Democrats here, all pomp and no circumstance."

"Finding others' opinions 'incomprehensible' is exactly what's wrong with left-wingers ... you don't get that we don't share your notions, not because of our fundamental stupidity, or belligerence. It's simply because we see things differently."

"You want to have a say-so in our election? Then become an American citizen, pay American taxes, and serve America in the military. Until then, go away."