(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in South Africa say the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States will be beneficial for the African continent, according to a poll by TNS Research Surveys. 66 per cent of respondents share this view, while only 11 per cent disagree.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Most people in South Africa say the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States will be beneficial for the African continent, according to a poll by TNS Research Surveys. 66 per cent of respondents share this view, while only 11 per cent disagree.
In American elections, candidates require 270 votes in the Electoral College to win the White House. In November 2008, Democratic nominee Obama secured a majority of electoral votes, defeating Republican candidate John McCain. On Jan. 20, Obama became the first African American president in U.S. history.
Obama’s father, Barack Obama Sr., was born in Alego, Kenya.
Johnnie Carson—who has served as the U.S. ambassador to Kenya, Zimbabwe and Uganda—was recently appointed by the Obama administration as U.S. assistant state secretary for African affairs.
On May 12, Carson commented on the apparent instability of Kenya’s unity government—led by president Mwai Kibaki and prime minister Raila Odinga—saying, "We have seen and have felt, as far away as Washington, concerns about the stability of the coalition. (…) We are deeply concerned and worried whether the events of the last several weeks were again a prelude to a round of instability."
Polling Data
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? – "The election of Barack Obama as president of the United States will be good for Africa."
|
Agree
|
66%
|
|
Disagree
|
11%
|
|
Not sure
|
29%
|
Source: TNS Research Surveys
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 2,000 South African adults in seven major metropolitan areas, conducted in February 2009. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.
