Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/u-s-election-grabs-intense-interest-overseas Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript The 2008 presidential election has sparked the world's attention, with some looking ahead to possible foreign policy shifts under a new administration, a new poll shows. Reporters from international media outlets gauge foreign reaction to the historic race. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. RAY SUAREZ: Finally tonight, the foreign fascination with the U.S. presidential contest. Judy Woodruff has the story. JUDY WOODRUFF: This year's campaign is grabbing the attention of millions of people overseas. A poll released today by the Pew Research Center, surveying more than 24,000 people in 24 countries, found that many believe the next president may well change U.S. foreign policy for the better and that, just about everywhere, greater numbers express confidence in presidential candidate Barack Obama than in John McCain.The survey also found favorable views of the United States have increased modestly since 2007 in 10 of 21 countries.For more now, we get four views from around the world. Hisham Melhem, he's Washington bureau chief for Al Arabiya, a Middle East satellite news channel.Martin Klingst, he's Washington bureau chief Die Zeit, a German newsweekly.Freelance journalist Mvemba Dizolele, he is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo.And Nayan Chanda, he's editor of YaleGlobal Online Magazine. He is an Indian citizen.Gentlemen, thank you all for being with us.And, first, let me turn to you, Martin Klingst. How much interest is there not just in Germany, but in all of Western Europe in this election compared to previous elections? MARTIN KLINGST, Die Zeit Weekly Newspaper: Oh, there's great interest. I tell you, there's a lot more interest than in 2004 and 2000. I think that has to do with the candidates, first of all, this very fascinating primary between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.And I think you know the Europeans like those stories, and they like personalized stories, and I think they look at Barack Obama like a love story, you know? They think of him as a black Kennedy, a dynamic figure, friendly figure. JUDY WOODRUFF: Did you say "Kennedy"? MARTIN KLINGST: Yes, a black Kennedy, they sometimes say. And they look at Michelle and Barack Obama like looking at Jacqueline Onassis and John F. Kennedy.So I think they have a great admiration for what is going on here. And I think having a nominee who is an African-American also changes the picture of the United States.