Global Presidential Poll

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Global Presidential Poll

• Readers Digest
• Date July, 2008

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Contents

• Executive Summary 2
• Research Overview 6
• Key Findings 8

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Executive Summary
4
Executive Summary

• Attention to the Election
• Outside of the U.S., the amount of attention paid
  to the U.S. presidential election varies a great
  deal. The most attention paid to the election
  was reported by respondents in Canada, Germany,
  Netherlands, Finland, Australia, and South
  Africa.
• The least amount of attention given to the
  election was indicated in Brazil, Poland, Russia,
  India, and Taiwan.

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Executive Summary

• Obama V. McCain
• While preference for the candidates is nearly
  equal in the U.S., support for Obama is
  significantly stronger in all other nations.
• In the U.S., McCain is seen as more qualified to
  address issues related to war and security, while
  Obama is the stronger candidate for humanitarian
  issues, such as poverty, the environment and
  human rights.
• All other nations feel Obama is better suited to
  address all issues asked about, particularly the
  humanitarian issues.
• Globally, the most important issues are the
  economy, poverty, and the environment.
• The election of Obama would be more likely to
  improve the image of the U.S.
• South Africa is the only country where the
  election of McCain would have a slightly more
  positive impact on the image of the U.S.
• Most countries believe a neutral or slightly
  positive effect on personal life would be
  achieved with the election of either candidate.
• Indonesia constitutes the one exception, with the
  majority anticipating a negative effect (71 for
  McCain, 59 for Obama).

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Executive Summary

• Additional Opinions
• Most agree that America is more ready to elect a
  black president than a woman president.
• Neutral to positive opinions about the US
  government are common.
• India is the most Pro-American (31) while Spain,
  Netherlands, Indonesia and Canada have the
  highest percent (21, 21, 20, 19) of
  respondents who are Anti-American.
• On average, just over 3 in 10 would be interested
  in moving to America if economic and political
  barriers were non-existent.
• The majority in India (73), South Africa (65),
  the Netherlands (55) and France (52) would make
  the move.
• In contrast, the least interest in moving to the
  U.S. was reported in Poland, Russia, Indonesia,
  and Australia. Approximately 70 of respondents
  in these countries expressed a lack of interest.

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Research Overview
8
Methodology

• Objectives The objectives of this research were
  to determine international awareness of the US
  presidential campaign and who citizens of other
  countries would vote for, as well as gauge their
  opinion of each candidate on several globally
  significant issues.
• Methodology Synovates Global Omnibus was used
  to conduct interviews in 15 countries from June 2
  to July 7, 2008
• Telephone interviews were conducted via Computer
  Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) networks
  in UK, France, Germany, Russia, Poland, Spain,
  Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan and Australia.
• Face to face interviews are conducted door to
  door in South Africa, India and Indonesia.
• Online interviews among nationally representative
  samples drawn from Synovates Consumer Opinion
  Panels were conducted in the US and Canada.
• Data from the Netherlands and Finland were
  collected by an outside supplier. The data
  collection methods used in these countries were
  online and telephone, respectively.

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Key Findings

• Attention to Election 9
• Most Important Issue 11
• Obama v McCain 20
• Additional Insights 31

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The amount of attention paid to the U.S. election
varies.

• The seventeen countries varied a great deal
  regarding how much attention respondents have
  given to the election. Other than the U.S., the
  countries where the most attention (i.e., more
  than half indicated quite a lot or some
  attention) was reported include Canada, Germany,
  Netherlands, Finland, Australia, and South Africa
  (see graph on the following page).
• The least amount of attention paid to the
  election was reported in Brazil, Poland, Russia,
  India and Taiwan.
• Across all countries, men and/or older
  respondents (55) were significantly more likely
  than women and younger respondents (under 25) to
  report paying quite a lot of attention to the
  election.

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The amount of attention paid to the U.S. election
varies (continued).
95
92
92
85
85
84
83
81
79
69
64
57
57
51
41
30
21
Q1 How much attention have you given to the
upcoming election for the President of the United
States? (DK/Ref data not shown)
12
Most Important Issue by Country
13
Summary Most Important Issues

• Of the eight issues presented, these three are
  consistently seen as most important.

Q4 Which ONE of these global issues do you feel
is the most important to you?
14
The One Issue Seen as Most Important North
America

• Americans tend not to share Canadians concerns
  about the environment
• Americans see global economy as most important

USA
Canada
Q4 Which ONE of these global issues do you feel
is the most important to you?
15
The One Issue Seen as Most Important Europe

• The environment and global poverty are both
  important issues for Western Europeans.

France
Germany
UK
Q4 Which ONE of these global issues do you feel
is the most important to you?
16
The One Issue Seen as Most Important Europe

• Russians are more likely to feel the threat of
  terrorism is most important compared to other
  European countries.

Poland
Russia
Spain
Q4 Which ONE of these global issues do you feel
is the most important to you?
17
The One Issue Seen as Most Important Europe

• Human rights are nearly as important an issue as
  poverty in the Netherlands.
• In Finland, the environment causes the most
  concern.

Netherlands
Finland
Q4 Which ONE of these global issues do you feel
is the most important to you?
18
The One Issue Seen as Most Important
Central/South America

• Those in Central and South America attribute
  great importance to the issues of global poverty
  and the environment.

Mexico
Brazil
Q4 Which ONE of these global issues do you feel
is the most important to you?
19
The One Issue Seen as Most Important
Pacific/Asia

• While Australians are concerned about the
  environment, the other Asian countries attribute
  more importance to economic and poverty-related
  issues.

Australia
India
Indonesia
Q4 Which ONE of these global issues do you feel
is the most important to you?
20
The One Issue Seen as Most Important Asia/Africa

• The Taiwanese share other Asian countries
  concerns about the economy, but place even
  stronger importance on environmental issues.
• Poverty and human rights are the most important
  issues for South Africans.

Taiwan
South Africa
Q4 Which ONE of these global issues do you feel
is the most important to you?
21
Obama v. McCain
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Outside the U.S. support for Obama is
significantly stronger across all countries.

• While in the U.S., preference for the candidates
  is nearly equal.
• Obama supporters tend to be younger (under 35),
  whereas McCain supporters tend to be older (55)
  and male.

Q2 If you could vote for the next president of
the United States, who would you vote for?
(DK/Ref data not shown)
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Which Candidate Would Do A Better Job
Addressing - North America

• In the U.S., McCain is seen as more qualified to
  address issues related to war and security, while
  Obama is the stronger candidate for humanitarian
  issues, such as poverty, the environment and
  human rights.
• Canadians feel Obama is better suited to address
  all issues, particularly humanitarian issues.

USA
Canada
Q3 For each of the global issues below, which
candidate would do a better job at addressing the
issue? (DK/Ref data not shown)
24
Which Candidate Would Do A Better Job
Addressing - Europe

• Europeans feel Obama would do a better job at
  addressing all issues, particularly poverty, the
  environment and human rights.

France
Germany
UK
Q3 For each of the global issues below, which
candidate would do a better job at addressing the
issue? (DK/Ref data not shown)
25
Which Candidate Would Do A Better Job
Addressing - Europe

• While trending the same as the rest of Europe,
  Russians and Poles are less likely to see either
  candidate as able to address these issues.

Russia
Poland
Spain
Q3 For each of the global issues below, which
candidate would do a better job at addressing the
issue? (DK/Ref data not shown)
26
Which Candidate Would Do A Better Job
Addressing - Europe

• Opinions in the Netherlands and Finland trend the
  same as the rest of Europe.

Finland
Netherlands
Q3 For each of the global issues below, which
candidate would do a better job at addressing the
issue? (DK/Ref data not shown)
27
Which Candidate Would Do A Better Job
Addressing Central/South America

• There is a strong preference for Obama as the
  candidate that would best address any issue.

Mexico
Brazil
Q3 For each of the global issues below, which
candidate would do a better job at addressing the
issue? (DK/Ref data not shown)
28
Which Candidate Would Do A Better Job
Addressing Pacific/Asia

• Again, Obama is seen as more proficient on these
  global issues, though respondents in India are
  less likely to have an opinion about either
  candidate.

Australia
India
Indonesia
Q3 For each of the global issues below, which
candidate would do a better job at addressing the
issue? (DK/Ref data not shown)
29
Which Candidate Would Do A Better Job
Addressing Asia/Africa

• And again, Obama is perceived as being able to do
  a better job addressing all of these issues.

Taiwan
South Africa
Q3 For each of the global issues below, which
candidate would do a better job at addressing the
issue? (DK/Ref data not shown)
30
Obama would be more likely to improve the image
of the U.S.

• Respondents in sixteen of the seventeen countries
  were significantly more likely to anticipate an
  improvement in their image of the U.S. if Obama
  is elected. Respondents under 25 years of age
  were particularly likely to feel this way.
• South Africa is the only country where the
  election of McCain would have a slightly more
  positive impact on their image of the U.S.

Improve Significantly/Somewhat
Q5 How would your image of America change if
these candidates became president?
31
Candidates would have little impact on current
family life.

• Most countries believe a neutral or slightly
  positive effect on personal life would be
  achieved with the election of either candidate.
• Indonesia is the one exception, with the majority
  anticipating a negative effect.

Q6 If (candidate respondent would vote for) were
to get elected, do you think he would affect the
life of you and your family? (DK/Ref data not
shown)
32
Additional Insights
33
America is more ready to elect a Black President
than a Woman President.

• However, at least 4 in 10 in all countries
  (excluding India) also believe that America would
  be ready for a woman president. (Note Most
  polling was conducted after it was clear that
  Obama would be the presumptive nominee, and this
  could have influenced the responses to these
  questions.)

America is ready to elect a Black President/a
Woman President
Agree Completely/Somewhat
Q12 Please tell me how much you agree or
disagree with the following statements. (DK/Ref
data not shown)
34
Neutral to positive opinions of the U.S. are
common.

• The majority hold a neutral to positive opinion
  of the U.S. government.
• India is most Pro-American while Spain,
  Netherlands, Indonesia and Canada have the
  highest percent who are Anti-American.
• Across most countries men and those aged 55 tend
  to be more Pro-American.

Q14 When you think of the United States
government, do you consider yourself? (DK/Ref
data not shown)
35
On average, just over 3 in 10 would be interested
in a move to the U.S.

• Though the majority in India, South Africa, the
  Netherlands and France would be ready to make the
  move. Respondents under 25 are particularly
  likely to feel this way.

Very/Somewhat Interested
Q13 If you were able to move without any
political or economic barriers, how interested
would you be in moving to the US? (DK/Ref data
not shown)