My Unscientific World Poll of Obama vs. Romney

A whole world has to live with whichever presidential candidate comes to occupy the Oval Office. If everyone else got a vote, it seems, Mitt Romney would not have gotten past the White House rose garden.

A poll for the BBC of 21 countries released before the U.S. presidential election showed that only Pakistanis, outraged at drone missiles, preferred Mr. Romney. The tally was 14 percent to 11 percent. Most respondents wanted neither. Canada went for Barack Obama by two to one. In France, it was 72 percent versus two percent for Mr. Romney.

Beyond the pollsters, I did my own sampling. Nate Silver would double over with laughter at the methodology. But, as a grizzled old reporter, I queried colleagues I know have a feel for their societies.

Peru was typical. Gustavo Gorriti of IDL-Reporteros noted Mr. Obama tallied 75 percent among Americans in Lima and he reckons Peruvians would have voted the same way. He messaged:
“Why? Migration policies, empa thy, sympathy, intelligence and understanding of the world. Opinion of Romney? The stereotypical gringo, hard working, prejudiced, short-sighted, with a dangerous imbalance between might and mind.”

A smart reporter in Hanoi, who asked for anonymity because he is a smart reporter in Hanoi, said most Vietnamese fear Mr. Romney, whose popular local nickname translates to “condor eye.” That is, a warmonger. They think Mr. Obama would do better at balancing the global economy.

Smita Sharma said most pundits on her TV program in New Delhi say “it is easier to deal with a known devil, than an unknown one.” But she said, “There are those Indians who still yearn for the Republican-Bush-Nuclear-Deal-High-Moment.” And some students wanted Mr. Romney to win because of Paul Ryan, his vice presidential partner, whose fresh young look and radical thinking made him appealing.

In the poll for the BBC, two-thirds of Australians chose Mr. Obama. Bill Claiborne, a retired Washington Post correspondent of wide experience, told me: “Australia is a small country on a very large continent but it is more egalitarian than the U.S.…I'd guess it would give a huge part of its vote to Obama. Oddly, it has a clone of Romney (or worse) heading the (conservative) Liberal Party and a quite liberal Labor Party hanging on to a slender majority in Parliament. There was enormous interest in Obama and celebrations after the election. I didn't hear of any rallies for Romney.”

In an upscale suburb of Stockholm, Fredrik Laurin, an investigative reporter, recorded an exchange with his son Malte and a friend, Max, on how Swedes would vote if they could. Both are 10 years old.

Some excerpts:

Max: I think they´d vote for Barack Obama.

Malte: There has been a lot of talk about Mitt Romney, that he cares more about the people who already have a lot of money.

Max: I think he´s rather selfish and only thinks ab out himself.

Malte: Obama cares about all people. He tries to make it good for both rich and poor. His grandmother has been poor herself and was living in one of those cow-dung huts that people live in in Africa. I also heard a lot about that when he was a kid, he wanted to be president. And that all should be equal.

Max: …I think many voted for [Mr. Romney].

Malte: But I don't think he´s good for the people, he thinks more about the ones that already have what they need…For example he says only the rich should have healthcare…I think that before Obama came you had to pay for healthcare in America, but when he came that was changed. You shouldn't have to pay when you go to a hospital.

Max: And all people should have the right to go to school. All should have equal rights.

Both kids said they expect more from a second term.

Malte: Obama has not done all he has promised, for example I don't know that all kids in America can go to school for free. But I think he has done things better. And now that he has won I think he can make sure that everyone can go to school and get health care. If you have a problem with your heart for example you should not have to argue with someone to go to hospital. Then you must be accepted and get an operation. Before he might have thought that he couldn't do it all, but now he can just go for it and make things better. Because then it's over.

Both kids read daily papers, watch TV news and cruise the Internet. Neither one mentioned Big Bird.