(ahem...off topic, I know)
Actually even here in Austria (not Australia) we have quite a bit of coverage of american primaries. 12 years back I think there was close to zero coverage....that certainly has changed. I think it stems from dread of what /might/ happen.
The American media is obligated to report whatever crazy thing any aspiring politician says, even if they have zero chance of getting elected. Maybe some background will help you guys out: American presidents can serve two terms (You probably already know this, I'm not trying to be patronizing), and they are almost always reelected because Americans love an incumbent. Means less work for us, less change to the status quo. The part most people outside the US
don't know is that if you win the primaries (Thus getting your party's nomination), but lose the actual presidential election, the party won't let you run again. Ever, even if you're like 40 and have a whole life of politics ahead of you, your presidential aspirations are over after a loss. So, the only people that run against a sitting president are usually people seeking publicity (Recent examples: Donald Trump, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich) or just the fringe weirdos who'd never snag a candidacy during a normal election (Michelle Bachman, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul, though Paul runs in every primary and has never won the Republican candidacy). Mitt Romney is the only serious candidate, and he's a religious pariah, so the rest of the world can basically look forward to four more years of Obama.
You're all free to tune out the rest of this sad dog and pony show, and let's kick some Daimon ass.