Barack Obama, John McCain and the 'global vote' for president

What would happen if the whole world could vote in next month's U.S. presidential election?

The folks at the Economist have launched an international poll asking just that. And they're taking this hypothetical seriously -- they've even redrawn the electoral map.

In the Britain-based magazine's Global Electoral College, each country is given at least three electoral-college votes. Countries are allocated more votes in proportion to their population size. Under the system, for example, the United States has 432 votes. China has 1,900. Iran has 104.

So let's get back to the big question: Who would win the global vote, John McCain or Barack Obama? Well, voting in the Global Electoral College doesn't close until Nov. 1, but early returns show Obama with a massive lead.

The Democrat has 8,482 electoral-college votes. The Republican has just 16.

The only countries leaning toward McCain, according to the poll, are Macedonia and Georgia. McCain will probably lose this imaginary election, but at least his "We are all Georgians" line worked.

-- Kate Linthicum

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Graphic credit: The Economist

Comments

[VJ Machiavelli]

I wonder how many would really vote for Obama if he was running for say head of Russia, China, Iran, Turkey,France, England, India, etc,etc.

I guess it is easy to vote in make up elections how about the real think, Would any country elect him their leader ??

BTW

I wonder why you have not posted a comment on the latest BUZZ regarding Nancy Pelosi Video that NBC & SNL pulled from their website for a number of hours and then returned they only problem is that the "CENSORED" the video it is not longer the same as what appeared live on saturday.

Now I am sure many reporters and bloggers would be on in "FINGERS" if they did that to a SNL Sarah Palin Video.

Come on check it out and comment if you dare

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[Andrew]

Hey, cool! Saw a notice for this in the second to last issue I got. One of the reasons I have an Economist subscription is because of its global perspective. Of course, I'm not sure how accurate it is--it's basically a poll of Economist readers that bothered to go online and vote.

Still, it's a pretty interesting widget.

[steve rodriguez]

Who cares about the global vote! I care only about the vote for president with the USA! It's a liberal world anyway, I know who they want to win! I'm sure that FDR, Ronald Regan and Abe Lincoln wouldn't have won the world vote either!

Go Sarah Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[steve rodriguez]

Yeah the world loves this young inexperienced community organizer with his high-taxed liberal social program agenda! The world knows that they're not the ones who will have to pay the heavy taxes of an Obama administration!

[Jon]

Do you people even read? Everything that's been said so far is a blatant fallacy.

The rest of the world wants Obama because the world depends on America, and he's the most dependable leader and the biggest advocate for real change in this election.

A vote for McCain would be for more of the same.

[Michael L. Tucker]

It is un important who the world wants as President of the United States. Though it has already been stated we know who they want. They want somebody that will let them walk all over the United States, with no fear of retaliation. That is why Obama is their man, and that reason alone iif it were the only one is why I wouldn't votefor Barak Obama. He is all talk no action!

[Michael L. Tucker]

Yes, Obama means change.
The change Obama wants to bring is making the United States a socailist third world country.
Where you have the haves and the have nots and no in betweens. Sounds kind of like Russia don't it. NO! NO WAY! Not for me. Spend your own money not mine.

[Michael L. Tucker]

Obama may be a citizen of the world, but I am not and proud of it. The United States should pull out of the UN and tell the rest of the world to sink or swim.
Then I guess Obama and the rest of the world would have a real reason to say the bad, bad USA. I am American and proud of it.

[Kevin]

Obama reminds me of Jimmy Cater who has poor judgements about America and the world. Jimmy Carter would talk to anyone without preconditions and was used by some countries for their propaganda.

[JCARIZONA]

Of course the world would like to see the greatest country in the world brought down to their level.

[Adam]

Considering the action the US has taken Internationally in recent years and its belief that it has a role as the worlds police force, perhaps the world should vote on the US Presidency.

[dhardy1]

"The rest of the world wants Obama because the world depends on America, and he's the most dependable leader and the biggest advocate for real change in this election."

well said john.

many americans don't understand how intrinsically tied together they are with the whole world. they can't, as much as they'd love to be, inward focused only. it's just not an option anymore.

[progressiveliberal]

I don't know about Reagan (too close in time) but I think the rest of the world would have voted for FDR. Remember the entire world was affected by the great depression, not just the US. People everywhere would have seen FDR as a "game-changer", to use a cliche.

As for Lincoln, he prolly would have gotten the support of the British empire and French-based interests, since they both had divested themselves of slavery and its more nefarious qualities by 1838. A lot of other issues would have made this a harder "world" election to call.

However, these comparisons seem rather ridiculous in a way because the world is so different today from what it was in the 1930s or 1850s. Even the Republican Party is no longer what it was then.

[Kerri]

I find it hard to believe Russians would vote 'strongly' for Obama. I'd say this is either one person's opinion or a big joke.

[JOSEPH]

Am I the only one that caught it. None of the after debate review said it. Obama repeated the first debate almost word for word. I could mimick many of his answers, where I could remember the first debate. One of you computer people: overlay the second debate over the first, line up the beginning of the paragraphs and I think you will see almost a match. It is unbelieveable that anyone would want a person to be president, when that person would do something like this. Could this guy not speak on his own.
Thanks, McCain for bringing some new information to the debate. Thanks, for not repeating the words of the first debate as Obama did.
After seeing the clone type (repeat them again) answers of Obama, it is now clear that only one person is qualified to be president.
McCain, your debate was not perfect because you did not tell the american people about the terrorist/bomber friends of your apponent. You did not tell the american people about your apponents finance person taking 90 million away in the economic scandal. Maybe it is not your place to have to advise people of the low character of your opponent. Sarah Palin is good at breaking the news to us.
jjsjr

[Deeg]

If you actually applied some brain while reading the economic policies proposed by the presidential candidates you would understand that Obama does not support higher taxes, i am no Obama fan but the facts are facts. Also he always stood up for more regulation and as all of us are finding out so horribly, that is the right way even in bulls market.
So open your eyes and minds and think before you speak/write.

[Durrin]

With regards to Europeans: They would vote for Obama because even the Dems would be considered right-wing in most European countries. The Republicans' policies are simply so far to the right of what most European countries regard as acceptable that it would be almost unthinkable for them to have any significant level of support.

[progressiveliberal]

Steve, I have a feeling you don't have much of a clue as to how the "world" sees George Bush. He has been a bully in international politics, while seeming unwilling to genuinely help anyone, not even his own people (e. g. the bumbling response to the effects of Katrina). McCain would seem like more of the same to lots of non-Americans, while Obama would seem like a breath of fresh air. At least Obama gives the appearance of respecting other countries, which the Republican party just hasn't been able to do in the last 8 years.

Do also remember that quite a few world countries have already had either women or social/cultural minority leaders over the last 20 years. That novelty factor wouldn't be that important to them.

Basically most world residents would support Obama for very similar reasons to those that are influencing many Americans.

[William]

Ridiculous. It's articles and insanely slanted polls like this that remind me why I should vote for McCain.

[shoemaker]

Perhaps the global vote went that way because word got out that the parties' theme songs are thus:

Democrats: Battle Hymn of the Republic

Republicans: Dixie

Ain't it ironic?

[spazdaq]

It would be a shame if I had to put away my science books and logic and dig up my fairy tale bible. Go Sarah Go indeed. Go home Sarah!

[fortunelawman]

Obama represent the poor, the workers, the societism/communism, the idealism, and he can't keep clear of terrorism.
Mccain represent the rich, the bourgeois, the capitalism, the realism, and he can't keep clear of bushism.
Who can represent the world? Obama, of course.
Who can represent the USA? Mccain, of course.
Who should we choose as the president of USA?
See what happened and happens in the societism countries in the world.
We should choose Mccain, of course!

[Jeremiah]

Since the whole world hates America, including Israel (they only tolerate us because we fulfill a current need), I say, who cares? The hatred is not generated by any logical reason or fault of America, it is simply envy. People always hate those with more, even if they give, they are distained.

[Jerry Ulibarri]

After watching last night's debate in Tennessee, those Macedonians and Georgians may have changed their minds.

The "undecideds" in this country sure did.

[Jeremiah]

Jon,
I read, I evaluate, I watch, I understand. Vote for change and that is exactly what you will end up with. There is a real possibility that .50 out of every dollar YOU earn will go toward social welfare and entitlements. Folks like YOU have no problem spending MY money. I am a contributor to social programs, almost 30% of my income goes for charitble organizations that I choose, not the government.