Obama The President Elect

Our last three reports were devoted to U.S Presidential elections. Polsters were bent upon exploring U.S Presidential elections from different angles. Now that the election mania has begin to subside we have restarted looking into other regions of the globe. U.S Presidential elections will still remain on the agenda of research for many reasons. U.S hegemonic stretch had already made U.S known in all parts of the world but this time it seems as if media and polsters both introduced it in the world with a different dimension.

Polling organizations like Gallup USA, Pew Research Center, Worldpublicopinion.org, and harrisinteractive raised questions to the publics of different countries about their choice between Obama and McCain. No doubt the general masses across the world had the same verdict as was given by Americans themselves but had it been global election for American President then the turn out would have been lower than 30 percent as pre election multinational studies showed. On the basis of my over two years polls monitoring I feel that masses generally think alike. But today we will focus on the post election expectations and feelings of Americans themselves in particular.

Several exit polls were conducted on election day and in the post election period Pew and Gallup has also made quick poll querries. These show that American people are feeling very satisfied, they have lot of hopes for their future in the long run and many expectations from Obama.

They feel satisfied with the outcome of election with Obama as President elect. The joy and happiness over the victory of Obama is very high among democrats and they have become even more optimistic about the immediate future of their country and themselves. Republicans on the hand have turned a bit more pessimistic about their future with the defeat of John McCain.

The findings show that Americans are feeling happy and proud of electing a black President. Majorities of them believe they achieved a milestone and have crossed the colour bariers. Though whites are shomehow divided in considering it as a milstone neverthless as many whites as voted for Obama consider it as a big achievment. Blacks especially believe that election of Obama will help in diminshing the colour barirers in the long run while the attitude of the white is again divided on the issue.

Besides showing satisfaction and hope for the future, majorities of American have lot of expectations from Obama regarding improving their present. Economic problems have been at the top of priorities for the election. Rising costs, degrading life standards and increasing unemployment seem to be the voters desires to be immediately addressed by Obama on the national front. On the international front American people also share concerns with publics around the globe to a certain extent.

Though there has not yet been any post U.S Presidential election global poll to know of the reactions of the general masses but from the pre election polls and looking into the news stories of papers around the globe one can feel the sentiment of relief, satisfaction and lot of expectations almost similar to American people.

Several newspapers editorial went on showing a sigh of relief that numbered are the days of Bush regime whose policies shomehow made the world unsafe. These were mostly not to blame the spirit in which President Bush took shuch steps rather these were focused on lamenting his approach. Some European newspaper raised their voice for the end of unilateralism. Others in the Muslim societies wished President elect Obama to have just policies towards the Muslim world. Withdrawal of forces from Iraq, and Afghanistan and closure of Guantanamo were among the expectations from the new U.S administration. The only post election survey available is that of Canadians who show even more hopes and exepctations than American people. Similar seems to be the sentiments across the globe.

How far the new U.S President can meet these expectations at home and abroad is still to dawn. It is quite obvious that the new administration will have to make several critical decisions in its early days.