by Frank James
There are polls that matter and polls that don't. We'll let you decide which category the following one falls into.
The Telegraph, a British newspaper, conducted a survey of people in Europe's five wealthiest nations--Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Russia found 52 percent want Democrat Sen. Barack Obama to be president.
By contrast, only 15 percent preferred to see Sen. John McCain become leader of the free world.
The poll reinforces what we've known for a while, that the Republican brand is faring even worse in Europe than it is in the U.S. and that's largely a function of President Bush and the Iraq War.
According to the Telegraph:
Mr Bush's unpopularity appears to have rubbed off on Republican presidential candidates in general. This might explain why Mr McCain, a strong supporter of the Iraq war, is the least popular potential president in all the countries surveyed.
Meanwhile, Mr Obama, the only consistent opponent of the Iraq war in the race for the presidency, commands a clear lead. He is especially popular in Italy, where a remarkable 70 per cent would vote for him if they could.
What's up with the Italians? Isn't this the same nation that just re-elected conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, an Iraq War supporter. A real disconnect, it seems to me.
There are some interesting variations among the nations. For instance, when asked "Irrespective of who you would support to be president, who do you think would be better equipped to lead the world economy out of its current difficulties: John McCain or Barack Obama?" the Russians chose McCain over Obama, 36 percent to 28 percent, even though in the U.S. economic affairs are seen as McCain's real weakness.
Also, there was only a seven percentage point split between the Russians who wanted Obama to be president, 31 percent versus the 24 percent who supported McCain. Obama blew out McCain everywhere else.
The poll results play to the notion that a President Obama would do much to re-establish the U.S. reputation abroad. But for many Americans, the fact that Obama is Europe's darling will just add to their suspicions about him. The French liked Sen. John Kerry over President Bush in 2004 and we all know where it got him.
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Comments
The WORLD is watching. And they want the taste of Republican out of their mouths! Cant blame em!
Posted by: Keith Lifetime Chicagoan and Southsider | May 29, 2008 2:55 PM
The survey is fine. However where was HRC in this????????????..Left out again I suppose......
Posted by: kaye c. | May 29, 2008 4:00 PM
"What's up with the Italians? Isn't this the same nation that just re-elected conservative Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, an Iraq War supporter. A real disconnect, it seems to me. "
There's a disconnect only if you think that the Italians were voting based on the candidates positions vis-a-vis the Iraq War. Which they weren't. They were voting on domestic issues.
It's not all about the U.S., you know.
Posted by: jlp | May 29, 2008 4:16 PM
kaye C.
Get over it; Hillary's not going to be the nominee. It is only the delusional that think otherwise. Let's face it she has shown herself to be a fighter; not a leader. The country wants a smart leader and that is why Barack will be elected. Hopefully he will be able to bring forth effective leadership; it will take this and good luck to recover from these last 8 years.
Posted by: John A | May 29, 2008 4:20 PM
Seems everyone around the world is smarter than the American people where they are stupidly divided among the dems and even more stupidly divided between dem/repubs. Go Obama!!!
Posted by: RuthieM | May 29, 2008 4:27 PM
I understand that these highly enlightened nations don't like wars, having been in numerous ones throughout their histories, but would like to note that these are nations whose Monarchys historically inter-married, prior to their various revolutions, just so that they would not be quite as quick to start a war with EACH OTHER.
I am sure that there are many nice things about the great democracies of Britain, France, Spain, Germany, Russia, and Italy, but in what year did they develop the perfect government model standard that America has to imitate. I apparently missed that crowning event.
Posted by: Django Scott - Houston, Tx | May 29, 2008 4:50 PM
CANADA for OBAMA
I can tell you now even without a poll that Canada is overwhelmingly for Obama and its all because we are worried about our American friends the same way you would worry about any friend who is very sick or perhaps facing an addicition crisis or something.
Life is simply better in Canada because we have a more educated population and less of the crazy politics that America has had.
I have spent long periods of time in the USA and I can tell you that the Canadian economy is stronger, our health care is better (Check out the stats on this one - the USA has 3rd world country stats regarding infant mortality and other concerns), our social systems are way better, our environment is healthier, we have more freedom (gays can marry, you are 1/10 as likely to be the victom of a violent crime, you wont go to jail for minor crimes, and our government is not spying on us, and we do have al kinds of rights to own guns - for hunting and the such).
I admit that our shopping and our weather are not as good as in the USA, your more southernly latitude and your bigger market are the roots of those things.
Really though, you are 'in a bad way' and you got their because you were unwilling to allow the wealthy to pay their share and you place the burden on the poor and middle class. This leads to poor education, crappy health care, and limited opperunity.
Do yourself a favour and move into the modern world by electing a progressive politician. Barrack is the best I have seen from the USA in decades.
So, Best of luck to you! We are all pulling for you.
Posted by: Bob | May 29, 2008 6:45 PM
The French and the Russians love Obama?
That's the best reason I've heard yet to vote against him.
Because they perceive that Obama won't defend American interests, but rather will kowtow to Europe.
Posted by: Bruce | May 29, 2008 7:54 PM
Why should we give a **** what the Europeans think ? !
When they pay us back all the money they owe us for saving their butts in WW I & WW II , then maybe I'll care (but probably not).
Posted by: Daniel P. From Long Island, N.Y. | May 29, 2008 11:57 PM