BBC Poll provides alternate perspective on election Posted by Patrick Barry

NSN Intern Eric Auner weighs in on the latest BBC poll and what it says about John McCain's capacity to rebuilt America's fractured alliances:

A recent BBC poll of 22 countries (including US allies like Poland and Canada) revealed that a majority of those in the international community take a dim view of a possible McCain presidency.  37% believed that “US Relations with the world” would stay the same under McCain (which is still terrible considering what relations under Bush are like right now) and a full 16% percent believe that they will get even worse. 

How are we to interpret these statistics?  Naturally, a certain crowd will loudly point to the fact that McCain is running for president to defend the interests of Americans, not to win a European popularity contest.  But the last eight years clearly demonstrate that America needs allies. Considering the challenges we face, restoring America’s stature with the international community is one of the most important issues at stake in this election. Even John McCain thinks that restoring America’s image is important and has pledged to do so if elected.

But what this poll clearly shows is that it is highly unlikely that he will be able to. Even if McCain tries to improve relations with our allies, any overtures that he makes would likely be greeted with skepticism since his foreign policy is almost identical to the Bush administration’s.  But even if one doesn’t believe that a McCain presidency is the same as a third Bush term, it is clear that a substantial portion of the rest of the world’s population does, and as a result there is little chance of McCain improving America’s stature around the world.

Comments

[TAPIWA DOUGLAS MAKOMBE]

I think this is not about color it is all about credibility and talent, and Obama has got the credantials to be the president of America.

[Amadee Braxton]

The poll is relevant to me personally, because if McCain gets in, I feel I may have to leave this country and move abroad. Hopefully, those who support an Obama candidacy in other nations would welcome American ex-pats driven out by his loss. I have great hopes that it will not come to this, however. Obama will be the decisive winner in November.