From The Australian :

It was inevitable the federal government would show support for its American centre-right counterpart in the lead-up to the US elections, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

But while Prime Minister John Howard had a “very close relationship” with George W. Bush, the coalition would also work effectively with an administration led by Democratic challenger John Kerry, he said.

Mr Howard today came under attack from the opposition and Mr Kerry’s camp for his open support of George W. Bush ahead of tomorrow’s election.

Mr Howard last week said he hoped Mr Bush was re-elected because he had been a strong leader in the world fight against terrorism.

Labor said Mr Howard should not meddle in another country’s politics, while former Clinton adviser Kurt Campbell said it was inappropriate for Mr Howard to publicly wish for Mr Bush’s victory.

But Mr Downer tonight said the Howard government had “been very closely entwined” with the Bush administration for four years, and it was inevitable the coalition would support the Republicans.

“We are a centre-right government and so it’s not surprising that centre-right governments sympathise with other centre-right governments around the world in a very narrow, sentimental sense,” he said.

“But in practice governments operate on the basis of national interest.

“We had a good relationship with the Clinton administration, we have a good relationship with the Blair and Clark governments in Britain and New Zealand.

“If the administration changes in the United States we will work very well with the Kerry administration …”

Mr Downer said no damage had been done by the comments, and that the Kerry camp had bigger things to think about.

“… It’s a wonderful thing that of all the hundreds and hundreds of people who support Senator Kerry, we’ve found one (who objected),” he said.

“I suspect that Senator Kerry and his team will have many more electorally important things to think about than that right now.”