Presidential hopeful Barack Obama has pulled ahead in key swing states, a new poll revealed today.

It may take decades to change anti-American feelings around the world that have been aggravated by war in Iraq, US policy toward Israel and America’s “sex and violence” culture, the State Department official in charge of dealing with the US image abroad said yesterday.

President George W. Bush retains an advantage with voters on such qualities as decisiveness and strength of leadership despite the Democrats’ effort to promote John Kerry as a strong leader, a poll has found.