Most Europeans, except the ones who are really fiscal hawks and/or deeply conservative on social issues, have a general standing preference for the Democrats and dislike of the Republicans, since generally the Democrats will be closer to their stances. So objectivity... eh, wouldn't be so sure of that.

Yes. I think it's because it was published in the more gossip-y part of the newspaper, and so wasn't actually checked by the foreign department/editor. But it's fairly embarrassing even so - and illustrative in a way: evidently, people who don't really follow American politics but still are, you know, journalists in a respected newspaper, know little enough that they can make gaffes like that.