If the world had a say in the U.S. presidential election, Democratic candidate Barack Obama would wind up in the White House with a clear margin of victory.
A worldwide poll conducted by eight major newspapers found Obama would receive four times the votes his opponent, Republican candidate John McCain, would receive on Nov. 4, if the world was allowed to vote.
Residents of Canada, France, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Switzerland, Great Britain and Belgium were involved in the poll.
Obama was the favoured candidate in all of the countries where polling was completed. In Switzerland he had the highest approval rate, with a whopping 83 per cent of support.
McCain only had seven per cent support in Switzerland.
Obama's approval rating was second highest in Canada, with 70 per cent of Canadian respondents saying they would vote for the senator from Illinois.
McCain had 14 per cent support in Canada -- twice his support in Switzerland but still well short of Obama's numbers.
McCain's strongest support was in Poland, where he had the support of 26 per cent of respondents. But although it was his best showing in the eight countries where polling was done, McCain was still well behind Obama's 43 per cent support -- a 17 point lead with less than three weeks before the election.
Respondents, who would vote for McCain, if they had a vote:
- Canada: 14 per cent
- France: 5 per cent
- Switzerland: 7 per cent
- Poland: 26 per cent
- Japan: 13 per cent
- Mexico: 13 per cent
- U.K.: 15 per cent
- Belgium: 8 per cent
Respondents, who would vote for Obama, if they had a vote:
- Canada: 70 per cent
- France: 68 per cent
- Switzerland: 83 per cent
- Poland: 43 per cent
- Japan: 61 per cent
- Mexico: 46 per cent
- U.K.: 64 per cent
- Belgium: 62 per cent
In Canada, there was an almost equal split when respondents were asked whether they thought McCain would make a good or very good, or bad or very bad president.
In total, 41 per cent of Canadians thought McCain would make a good or very good president, while 42 per cent thought he would make a bad or very bad president.
By comparison, 81 per cent of Canadians thought Obama would make a good or very good president. Only eight per cent of Canadians thought Obama would make a bad or very bad president.
In total, 77 per cent of Canadians polled said their opinion of the U.S. was worse since President George Bush, a Republican, was elected in 2001.
Only 13 per cent of Canadians said their opinion was better since Bush took over, following eight years under former president Bill Clinton.
When asked whether the next U.S. president should withdraw American troops from Iraq, the response was overwhelmingly in favour of a withdrawal in all countries where the question was asked.
Yes, troops should be withdrawn:
- Canada: 75 per cent
- France: 76 per cent
- Switzerland: 88 per cent
- Poland: 83 per cent
- Japan: 73 per cent
- Mexico: 86 per cent
No, troops should not be withdrawn:
- Canada: 16 per cent
- France: 13 per cent
- Switzerland: 9 per cent
- Poland: 11 per cent
- Japan: 17 per cent
- Mexico: 10 per cent
Newspapers taking part in the survey were La Presse in Canada, The Guardian in the U.K., Yomiuri Shimbun in Japan, Le Monde in France, Reforma in Mexico, Gazeta Wyborcza in Poland, Le Soir in Belgium and Le Temps in Switzerland.
