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This article lists international reaction to the 2008 United States presidential election, in addition to Barack Obama's election as the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008 and his inauguration on January 20, 2009.
A global non-scientific Internet vote conducted by The Economist, with 52,000 respondents, indicated that Obama was favored over McCain by a vast majority of poll respondents, with over 44,000 votes, or roughly 85%, for Obama (there was no abstain option).[233]
In a poll conducted in 22 countries for the BBC World Service in July and August 2008, those in all 22 countries preferred Obama. The margin in favor of Obama ranged from 9% in India to 82% in Kenya. On average, 49% of respondents preferred Barack Obama and 12% preferred John McCain, while nearly 40% expressed no preference.[234]
Media around the world reacted with strong emotions when Obama was elected. Most expressed positive hopes and expectations for the president-elect, but some tried to prepare their readers for disappointment. Editorials varied from elation[235] to cautious optimism,[236] and a few were outright skeptical.[237] Many celebrated Obama's victory as historic and a sign of changing race-relations in America.[238] Commentators said the election results surprised them because there was an international perception that America was too racist to elect a black president.[239] Many also said people in their country were blinded by infatuation with Obama and encouraged them to see him as a normal human being capable of error.[240] Within a week, the excitement and elation subsided somewhat and newspaper editorials began to caution that Obama had enormous obstacles ahead.[241]
The election was closely watched from around the world and domestic media like CNN and PBS tracked the international reaction.[242][243] Major newspapers on every continent covered the election's outcome on their front pages or as their top story, a reflection of the U.S.'s strong influence on world affairs and candidate Obama's international celebrity. Obama's campaign had said it would like to "build a fan base across the world."[244]
'Russian-American relations have historically been an important factor for stability in the world and have great importance and sometimes key significance for resolving many of today's international and regional problems', Mr Medvedev said in his telegram. 'We in Russia are certain of the need to work consistently on developing cooperation between our countries not only on the broad range of issues in the international agenda but also on building real bilateral cooperation in all different areas. We have already built up solid positive potential in this area but much still remains to be done for the good of our peoples and in the interests of making the world more peaceful and secure. [...] I hope for a constructive dialogue with you based on trust and consideration of each other’s interests.'
Barack Obama, Democratic Party (United States), John Kerry, United States presidential election, 2012, Jesse Helms
Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran, Turkey, Bahrain
Azerbaijan, Turkey, Pakistan, Persian language, Armenia
Bill Clinton, Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki, African National Congress, Nobel Peace Prize
Barack Obama, John McCain, Joe Biden, Democratic Party (United States), Republican Party (United States)
Barack Obama, United Kingdom, John McCain, Philippines, Australia
Libertarian Party (United States), Joe Biden, Cynthia McKinney, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney
Joe Biden, Cynthia McKinney, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Socialism
United States presidential election, 2012, Democratic Party (United States), Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, United States presidential election, 2008