Worried, Unpopular USA Looks for Obama Bounce

The USA is viewed favourably by a majority of people in India (72%) and Poland (53%), and in America itself, but not in nineteen other major economies in a survey conducted by Ipsos for Reuters. Meanwhile other polls show the country's high hopes for its incoming President.

In addition to India and Poland, the United States itself gave majority approval (74% viewing their own country favourably) while Britain and South Korea saw equal numbers supportive and critical. Russia (60%) and Turkey (55%) led the list of those mostly critical, followed by Argentina, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. The remaining countries surveyed were Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain and Sweden. Between them, these 22 make up 75% of the world's GDP.

The online poll of 22,000 people was conducted for Reuters by Ipsos Global Public Affairs shortly after Obama was elected in November. The US was seen as having a high standard of living and contributing to the global economy, but these factors were rated less important in overall views than valuing human rights, respect for its citizens' rights and contributing to international peace and cooperation.

Meanwhile another poll, for Washington Post-ABC News, showed that Americans have high hopes from Barack Obama, who is heading for his inauguration as America's 44th President this week via historic homages to Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King; but that eight out of ten citizens say the country is headed seriously off course.

The poll showed Americans pinning their hopes for the economy on the president-elect, who has specifically warned that things will not be easy and that there will be setbacks on the road to recovery. Almost three-quarters expect his proposals to improve the economy, and about eight in ten have a favourable view of him, more than twice the current rating for his predecessor. Seven in ten worry about their family's finances, and 94% believe the country's economy to be in 'not so good' or 'poor' shape, the worst result in more than 23 years of polling by the two organisations.

Web sites: www.ipsos.com , www.reuters.com , www.abcnews.com and www.washingtonpost.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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