Poll finds foreigners prefer Obama

People outside the United States would prefer Barack Obama to become president, a poll of 22,500 people in 22 countries has found. The BBC World Service poll showed that in 17 countries, more people felt that US relations with the rest of the world would improve under Obama, the Democratic nominee, than his Republican rival John McCain. On average 49 per cent of people polled are in favour of Obama winning the November election, as opposed to McCain, with 12 per cent. Nearly four in 10 of those polled did not take a view, however.

The survey was conducted before the Democratic and Republican parties held their conventions and before the controversial nomination of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate.

Some 82 per cent of people in Kenya, the birthplace of the Illinois senator's father, surveyed backed Obama, compared to nine per cent in India.