What are elections all about?

Over the past few days, I've been forced to think about this question and have not been able to answer that successfully. Well, I ponder over this is everytimeI hear these candidates state loudly that 'Elections are always about the future'! And, this statement is being made by candidates of both parties multiple times. It was corroborated and sounded like gospel truth to me when one of my favorite leaders, President Bill Clinton, declared with his usual confidence and stamp of authority at a rally in California a few days ago that, "America is the only country in the world where elections are about the future."

Man, you have no idea how much I've been racking my brains since then to discover and see how and on what basis are elections fought in other countries. My Clinton doesn't make such statements if it weren't true. The least explanation I could come with was the fact that perhaps only in America do the candidates so publicly declare their objectives; ideas; tactics and the exact strategies they would pursue if elected to office. This would mean to suggest that in other nations campaigns are only about debating the past record and history of the candidates as opposed to their visions of the future.

Unfortunately I haven't followed elections in other nations so closely to make a fair and sound judgment to answer the main question at hand. So, if you know or have an insight, please do let me know.