(08/24/10) -

Canadians Hold Better View of Obama’s Performance than Britons

Canadians hold a much more positive view of United States President Barack Obama than Britons, a new two-country Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

Seven-in-ten Canadians believe the American president deserves to be re-elected in 2012, but under half of Britons agree.

Canadians hold a much more positive view of United States President Barack Obama than Britons, a new two-country Angus Reid Public Opinion poll has found.

In the online survey of representative national samples of 1,010 Canadian and 2,012 British adults, 61 per cent of respondents in Canada say Obama’s performance so far has been just what they expected. Fewer people in Britain agree (51%).

In Canada, 14 per cent of respondents say Obama’s performance has exceeded their expectations, while 18 per cent say they have been disappointed by it. In Britain, these perceptions sit at 13 per cent and 23 per cent, respectively.

Three-in-ten Canadians (30%) say the American president has accomplished much since his term started in January 2009. But only 12 per cent of British respondents agree with this assessment. And while only 15 per cent of Canadians think Obama has achieved little, this proportion rises to 25 per cent in Britain.

A large proportion of people in both countries (CAN 48%, BRI 54%) say it is too early to judge Obama’s accomplishments.
 
Obama’s Traits

When judging his personal character, a large majority of Canadians agree with the notion that Obama inspires hope (82%); that he represents a new brand of politics (74%); that he has made progress in bringing change to America (73%); and that he has worked across party lines to get things done (68%).

Many Canadians say the American president stands for big government (42%); around a third think he is inexperienced (37%), and see him as being more style than substance (32%). Only 11 per cent accuse Obama of being “too radical.”

In Britain, for the most part people grant positive reviews to Obama’s personal traits. A majority says he inspires hope (72%); represents a new brand of politics (64%); has made progress in bringing change to America (59%); and has gone beyond party lines to get things done (53%).

Half of Britons think Obama stands for big government. A large number (46%) say he is inexperienced, and 40 per cent say he is more style than substance. As was the case in Canada, few respondents (13%) call him “too radical.”

Nobel Peace Prize and Re-Election in 2012

In both Canada and Britain, respondents are inclined to say that Obama did not deserve to win the Nobel Peace Prize that he received last year. Half of Canadians (50%) and more than half of Britons (57%) share this point of view.
 
Canadians are much more likely to endorse Obama for a new term at the White House in 2012 (70%) than Britons (48%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)