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All Countries in BBC Poll Prefer Obama to McCain

The margin in favor of Obama ranges from just 9 percent inIndia to 82 percent inKenya. On average 49 percent prefer Obama to 12 percent preferring McCain. Nearly four in ten do not take a position.

The poll also explored the expected impact of the US election. In 17 of the 22 countries surveyed the most common view is that, if Barack Obama is elected president, America's relations with the rest of the world are likely to improve. If John McCain is elected, the most common view in 19 countries is that relations will stay about the same.

On average 46 percent think that US relations with the world would improve with Obama, 22 percent that relations would stay the same, and 7 percent that they would worsen. However only 20 percent think relations would improve under McCain. The largest number -- 37 percent -- think relations under a McCain presidency would stay the same and 16 percent think they would worsen.

Despite the preference for an Obama victory in all countries, significant proportions in several said they do not favor either candidate, favor both equally or do not know which would be preferable.

Americans also believe an Obama presidency would improve US relations with the world more than a McCain presidency, with 46 percent of Americans expecting relations to be improved with Obama's election and 30 percent with McCain's.

The survey of 22,531 adults across 22 countries was conducted for the BBC World Service by the international polling firm GlobeScan together with the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland. A parallel poll surveyed 1,000 US adult citizens. GlobeScan coordinated fieldwork between July 8 and August 27, 2008.

GlobeScan Chairman Doug Miller comments, "Large numbers of people around the world clearly like what Barack Obama represents."

"Given how negative America's international image is at present, it is quite striking that only one in five think a McCain presidency would improve on the Bush Administration's relations with the world."

For more information, visit www.WorldPublicOpinion.org.

SOURCE Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) at the University of Maryland