24 October 2008 - 07H22
Obama landslide in Europe
As the election of the next US president draws closer, the latest FRANCE 24/Harris Interactive poll, in partnership with the IHT, revealed some surprising results about what most Europeans and Americans expect from the Nov. 4 vote.
As the election of the next US president approaches, the latest FRANCE 24/Harris Interactive poll, in partnership with the International Herald Tribune, revealed some surprising results regarding expectations in Europe and the United States.
While most Europeans interviewed said they were following this election closely (85% in Germany), nearly one in two British respondents (47%) said they were not interested in the vote.
The five largest European countries (78% in France and 72% in Germany) would like to see Democratic candidate Barack Obama elected because of his personality and his capacity to bring about a change from current US policy. For most respondents, Obama would do a good job at promoting relations with the ‘Old Continent’.*
Republican candidate John McCain’s rating, meanwhile, is extremely low. If they could vote, only 1% of French, 5% of German and 8% of Spanish respondents would elect John McCain.
Race and issues
The military situation in Iraq and Afghanistan, the financial crisis and global warming are the three main issues the new US president would face as soon as he takes up office, the survey showed. While Europe would like to see a positive outcome in Iraq and Afghanistan, 85% of Americans interviewed felt the national economic situation was the top priority.
Barack Obama is best placed to treat these issues, according to a majority of the people surveyed. However, most people interviewed consider McCain more credible on questions regarding security and reducing terrorism. On these two issues, McCain enjoys a 15-point lead among American respondents.
Finally, this is the first time that a person of colour could actually become the president of the United States. In the six European countries, a majority of respondents (71% of Germans and 54% of Spanish) felt this would have a positive effect on the United States, but 14% of Americans surveyed said they believed it would have a negative impact.
This survey was conducted online among a total of 6,276 adults (aged 16‐64) within France, Germany, Great Britain, Spain and the United‐States; and adults (aged 18‐64) in Italy, from 1st to 13th October 2008.
Read the complete survey results
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Comments
Move on from John McCain
I Just want to get this election over with, so I do not have to hear John McCain`s loud mouth of saying he is not George W. Bush while making a mockery of Barack Obama , while calling him a socialist, if Mr McCain knows what a socialist means.Go tell the rest of the World!
voting pattern when economy in crisis
In times of economic turmoil, people will vote for an opposing party, albeit they would not do so in quiet times.
If Obama wins it should not be taken as a referendum on his policies but rather a vote against the party iof the current President.. This voting pattern always occurs by the electorate when the economy is in crisis. Americans would rather be all they can be under capitalism rather than Obama's espoused socialism in which people will be prohibited from being all they can be and living the American dream.
Care Free Popularity
These popularity results say less about the actual job John McCain or Barrack Obama would do as president and more about the culture of politics separating Europe and the United States. The difference between subjects and citizens.
America does not have the luxury of making this election a feel good exercise in holding a mirror up to both its recent and past history for the benefit of an audience. And whether it wants to realize it or not – neither does the rest of the world.
Citizens have to worry about such things. Subjects let somebody else do it for them.
election and conferences
lets have the election tomorrow,fed up of listening to macain.,it would nice to see a fresh face in the white house .ps nothing wrong with bush. that is..he was more of a statesman ,macain sounds like an errand boy.