Poll: World Likes US Again

How soon they forget. America has become a lot more popular around the world since President Obama took office, according to a BBC poll. The poll of 30,000 people in 28 countries found that positive views of the US now average 40%, up from a low of 28% in 2007. Spain, France, and the UK generally have positive views of the US. Germans and Russians still tend to have a negative attitude toward the US but by a much smaller margin than a couple of years ago.

The poll found Germany was the most popular nation worldwide, while Iran and Pakistan ranked lowest. "After a year, it appears the Obama effect is real," one pollster said. The effect's "influence on people's views worldwide, though, is to soften the negative aspects of the United States' image, while positive aspects are not yet coming into strong focus." China's worldwide popularity has been sinking while America's has risen, the pollster notes.
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