The British view: whoever wins the US election, John McCain is last

[liberalpragmatist]

Source: Daily Telegraph

Obamamania sweeps Britain. So many primaries are being held in the American presidential contest that we thought the 51st state should not be left out. So Populus asked British voters which of the two Democrat challengers they preferred, and then, separately, to choose between either of the two Democrats and the Republican Senator John McCain.

The results are fascinating at several levels. First, and most obviously, Senator Barack Obama has caught the imagination of the British public across the board. He is both known and seen as fresh and exciting. Nearly a half of all voters (48 per cent), and the same proportion of men and women, and of Labour and Tory voters, prefer Senator Obama.

Hillary Clinton has won the backing of 35 per cent of the British public, with no difference between men and women. She receives most support among Labour voters, at 41 per cent, and least, 27 per cent, among Liberal Democrats, who are the keenest on Senator Obama, at 66 per cent. Only 17 per cent do not express an opinion either way.

Secondly, more than a half of British voters want to see a Democrat win in November. Senator McCain gains the support of a fifth or less of the public. Senator Clinton would win by 56 to 20 per cent, and Senator Obama by a virtually identical 54 to 19 per cent. Of course, the two Democrats have been in the news a lot more recently, though Senator McCain is one of the best-known American politicians in Britain.

...

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/peter_riddell/article3897503.ece

[KSinTX]

1. Senator McCain is one of the best-known American politicians in Britain.

Interesting!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. They know under the mask there is a Bush

[LeftishBrit]

16. Not really surprising - he's been here more than once..

and always acts like he's campaigning for our votes! He compared David Cameron to JFK, and said that he wishes to spread Republicanism around the globe (note that in the UK, 'Republicanism' means either opposition to the monarchy, or support for Irish nationalism).

[hokies4ever]

2. Anyone else find it odd

that so many foreigners are this in tune with our politics? Almost sounds like the average Brit knows more about our election that the average American. I bet if you ask them if Obama is a Muslim a lower percentage of them would say 'yes'.

[pepperbear]

3. I visited England in 1988 during the bush/dukakis election....

they had 24/7 coverage as if it were for their own PM.

[Johnny Noshoes]

5. I was there too in '88

Somebody asked who I was for and I said "the little Greek guy". They also asked what I thought about Thatcher and I said she was Reagan in a dress.

[pepperbear]

10. I also took a photo of a double decker with an ad on the side that read....

"Sharp Calculators can make anyone look like a genius"

The accompanying picture was of Reagan, but with Einstein's hair.

Priceless.

[LeftishBrit]

15. Ooh, great description of Thatcher!

Though her IQ was higher than Ronnie's; and she was certainly more industrious - but you could say that these characteristics made her personally more dangerous.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

7. I'm not sure about that?

[jaybeat]

9. US politics is big news because it has a big impact everywhere in the world

Folks abroad often DO know more about US politics than (at least some) US voters. What happens here can and often does effect huge numbers of people all around the world. Also, many people abroad feel a connection with the US; either cultural (from our movies, music, TV, and other media), or because they have known Americans, or because they have friends or relatives who have studied or emigrated here.

In my experience, Europeans especially seem to have almost a perverse fascination with the US, much like how people can't get enough on celebrities going crazy... There's a voyeuristic aspect to watching their crazy, rich uncle make a mess of things... they feel bad for us, but they also know that at least some of it is our own damn fault.

And they get to thank their lucky stars they don't live here, even though they are bombarded 24/7 with how everything American is "better"...

[Skittles]

11. it's not odd at all

the entire world now knows what happens when repukes stay around too long in America

[DebbieCDC]

4. It was the same in France in '92

I was in in Paris in Sept. of '92 before Poppy and Bill squared off. I'll never forget the day after one of the debates a French tabloid had a cover of Bill and Poppy face to face with the headline "Le Duel". I had all kinds of French people, cabdrivers, waiters, etc. ask me about the election and who I supported and how I tried to explain the differences between Republicans and Democrats in my fractured French.

But the point is they were interested and involved in our political process -- sad the same cannot be said for many Americans.

[nomorewhopper]

8. literally the entire world wants to see a democrat elected

name one country where the people want to see the us elect a republican?

[BB1]

13. Switzerland

[Joe Chi Minh]

19. I doubt even that.

[Jemmons]

12. I have lived in London for a while and Im not surprised

In my native Denmark there is a huge interest and quite good coverage, both of election issues and analysis of things like say the Israel-lobby and the Iraq situation. Educated people here knows that we don't shape the world and that decisions taken in the US or China will have implications for us in the long run.

Here in Denmark we are seeing a very US-style dumb-bombing of public services that has the strategic aim of making privatization look attractive.It is not hard to spot the source of such a novel approach to "national interest" and so quite a few people here take notice of what is going on in the US. I'm sure the Iraq and Afghanistan wars also make people take notice of US politics.

[LeftishBrit]

14. Not surprised..

Most British people whom I know are anti-Bush. And those who are aware of McCain think he's an idiot - and many are aware of him; he's been here more than once, cosying up to David Cameron and the Tories (though without great success, judging from the poll!)

[T_i_B]

17. The one thing I can add

...is that Clinton, McCain and Obama are all thought of better then Bush.

One thing to note however is that no UK politician has really grasped what Obama is doing and run with it as the Tories are too chummy with the GOP and New Labour with the Clintonites. That may change if things go Obama's way.

[yurbud]

18. vote this up on digg & buzzflash so more see it LINKS:

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Over_50_of_Brits_wants_either_Dem_to_win_20_want_McCain

http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=51506