Americans in Ireland go on the stump for Obama

THE first primaries for the US presidential election are upon us, and the world is eager to learn who might become the next leader of the free world.

America’s image overseas has plummeted in recent years. According to research conducted in 2005 by the Pew Council on international political attitudes, the world has shown great dissatisfaction with US leadership. Big majorities related that their views of the US had become less favourable because of the re-election of George W Bush, with 77% in Germany, 75% in Canada, 74% in France and 62% in Britain showing such attitudes. In most countries surveyed, support for the US is almost half of what it was in 1999/2000.

When citizens of various countries were asked to indicate favourable or unfavourable attitudes towards five specific nations — the US, Germany, France, Japan and China — the British, French, Germans, Spanish, Dutch and Russians all gave their lowest marks to the US.