Rarely does the entire world agree, but Obama v. McCain has produced a global consensus! Okay, there were only 22 countries polled, but still…

If we can momentarily put aside our obvious preference for neither of the major party candidates, we’ll see that something important and perhaps unprecedented is happening. The world, speaking in unison, is pleading with Americans to elect Obama. The American people, like all people, are prone to manipulation by clever media campaigns, scare tactics and political chicanery. But I genuinely believe that while we were dumb enough to elect Bush…twice, 2008 is the last straw. Let’s make sure that this clear conviction from the rest of the world becomes a theme over the next two months. If Americans understand the depth and passion behind public opinion around the world, they won’t make the same mistake thrice.

Anyway…I’ve pulled out what I feel are the highlights of the poll below and after the break, and the full report (PDF) is definitely worth skimming if you’re interested in this type of thing.

All 22 countries in a BBC World Service poll would prefer Democratic nominee Barack Obama elected US president instead of his Republican rival John McCain. Obama is preferred by a four to one margin on average across the 22,000 people polled.

The margin in favour of Obama ranges from just 9 per cent in India to 82 per cent in Kenya. On average 49 per cent prefer Obama to 12 per cent preferring McCain. Nearly four in ten do not take a position.

The poll also explored the expected impact of the US election. In 17 of the 22 countries surveyed the most common view is that, if Barack Obama is elected president, America’s relations with the rest of the world are likely to get better. If John McCain is elected, the most common view in 19 countries is that relations will stay about the same as they are now.

A similar poll conducted for BBC World Service by GlobeScan ahead of the 2004 US presidential election found that, of 35 countries polled, 30 preferred to see Democratic nominee John Kerry, rather than incumbent George Bush, elected president. At the time, the Philippines, Nigeria and Poland were among the few countries to favour Bush’s re-election. All three now favour Barack Obama over John McCain….

The countries with the largest majorities favouring Obama as US president are Kenya (87%), Italy (76%), France (69%), Australia (67%), Canada (66%), and Germany (65%). While no country has more favouring McCain, in five countries the largest numbers do not take a position either way and thus the per cent in favour of Obama is fairly small. These include Russia (18% for Obama), Singapore (29%), Turkey (26%), India (24%), and Egypt (26%).

While people in most countries think that an Obama presidency would improve relations with the world, three predominantly Muslim countries are among those least likely to say so. The most common view in Turkey is that relations even under an Obama presidency would get worse (28%), while the most common view is that relations would stay the same in Egypt (34%) and Lebanon (42%). This is also the most common view in Russia (22%) and Singapore (28%). However, of these, only Singapore and Turkey have a more positive view of the impact of a McCain presidency.

In fifteen countries the dominant position was that, because Obama is an African-American, if he were to be elected it would fundamentally change their perception of the United States. Not surprisingly it would have the biggest impact on Kenyans (85%) and Nigerians (69%). But large numbers also say they would be impressed in Egypt (65%) and America’s neighbours/allies Mexico (60%), Australia (59%), and Canada (54%). In only two countries do majorities say that it would not fundamentally affect their view of America–Poland (59%) and Lebanon (51%), while a plurality take this position in Turkey (40%) and Russia (26%). In three others, views are divided on this question–Italy, Singapore, and Brazil.