02-18-2008, 11:43 PM
Europe favours Obama but Britons like Clinton
By John Thornhill in Paris
Published: February 17 2008 18:42 | Last updated: February 17 2008 18:42
The French, Italians, Spanish and Germans would âvoteâ for Barack Obama in the US presidential elections â although the British would prefer Hillary Clinton.
An FT/Harris poll of more than 5,000 Europeans found that the two Democratic candidates were by far the most popular, with Mr Obama winning between 35 per cent of the âvoteâ in Spain and 45 per cent in Italy.
But in the UK Mrs Clinton edged out Mr Obama by a margin of 28 per cent to 23 per cent.
On the Republican side, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani were the two most popular candidates (Mr Giuliani, who was particularly strong in Italy, has Âsubsequently pulled out of the race).
The online poll was conducted between January 30 and February 8.
In a separate FT/Harris poll of 1,020 adults in the US, Mr Obama narrowly beat Mrs Clinton by a margin of 22 per cent to 21 per cent. Mr McCain was in third place with 14 per cent.
US election surveys are normally restricted to likely or, at least, registered voters, whereas the Harris survey sampled all adults and reflects a snapshot of how the US feels on this issue.
This yearâs US presidential election has aroused huge interest in Europe, which seems keen to end eight years of often testy relations with the administration of President George W. Bush.
Louis Giscard dâEstaing, a French parliamentary deputy and president of the Franco-American friendship group, said the election of any of the three leading Âcontenders would strengthen transatlantic ties.
By John Thornhill in Paris
Published: February 17 2008 18:42 | Last updated: February 17 2008 18:42
The French, Italians, Spanish and Germans would âvoteâ for Barack Obama in the US presidential elections â although the British would prefer Hillary Clinton.
An FT/Harris poll of more than 5,000 Europeans found that the two Democratic candidates were by far the most popular, with Mr Obama winning between 35 per cent of the âvoteâ in Spain and 45 per cent in Italy.
But in the UK Mrs Clinton edged out Mr Obama by a margin of 28 per cent to 23 per cent.
On the Republican side, John McCain and Rudy Giuliani were the two most popular candidates (Mr Giuliani, who was particularly strong in Italy, has Âsubsequently pulled out of the race).
The online poll was conducted between January 30 and February 8.
In a separate FT/Harris poll of 1,020 adults in the US, Mr Obama narrowly beat Mrs Clinton by a margin of 22 per cent to 21 per cent. Mr McCain was in third place with 14 per cent.
US election surveys are normally restricted to likely or, at least, registered voters, whereas the Harris survey sampled all adults and reflects a snapshot of how the US feels on this issue.
This yearâs US presidential election has aroused huge interest in Europe, which seems keen to end eight years of often testy relations with the administration of President George W. Bush.
Louis Giscard dâEstaing, a French parliamentary deputy and president of the Franco-American friendship group, said the election of any of the three leading Âcontenders would strengthen transatlantic ties.