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79 percent of Irish public back Barack Obama in the US Presidential race

Democratic candidate is far more popular than Romney with Irish

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, October 22, 2012, 7:37 AM

Updated Monday, October 22, 2012, 9:59 AM

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Obama enjoying a pint in Ollie Hayes in Moneygall, County Offaly

Photo by Google Images

Barack Obama has received a vote of confidence from the Irish public in his bid to stay in the White House. 79 per cent say they would vote for him.

The outgoing US President is the clear favourite with the Irish to win the forthcoming election ahead of Mitt Romney.

An opinion poll in the Irish Times newspaper shows that the vast majority of people in Ireland want Obama to win.

The latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll returns only a tiny level of support among the electorate for Republican challenger Mitt Romney.

The paper reports that when asked who they would support if they had a vote in the US election, 79 per cent of respondents said Obama.

Just five per cent opted for Romney while 16 per cent had no opinion.

The survey was undertaken last week among a representative sample of 1,000 voters aged 18 and over. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 per cent.

The Irish Times reports that Fine Gael voters give twice as much support to Romney than supporters of any other party but even at that, 81 per cent of them want an Obama victory.
Just three per cent of Labour Party voters want Romney to win.

The paper says that better-off AB voters are twice as likely to support Romney as those in the poorest DE socio-economic category, but again the level of support for Obama in both groups is overwhelming.

Support for Obama is consistent across all age groups with a slight dip in the over-65s who are more likely than any other age category to back Romney.

The report says that Obama wins in the personality stakes and also benefits for historical Irish support for the Democratic Party.

In the past the Irish public have embraced visits from Democratic presidents John F Kennedy, Bill Clinton and Obama.

Muted receptions were afforded to Republicans Richard Nixon and George W Bush.

Nster.com

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35 Comments

15 - 35 | See all comments

BrianO | Oct 23, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT

love the picture caption " augh I can't believe I have to drink this black stuff". " Ah well anything for a vote"

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jacksonjack | Oct 23, 2012, 01:08 PM EDT

At least this story is correct in the second paragraph that begins "The outgoing President Obama..." In the 1950's I was being raised by my Grandparents who saved up enough to come to America from Bessbrook, Northern Ireland in 1909. I recall my Grandfather, who worked all his life in a northern NY linen thread factory saying you won't go wrong if you always vote Republican.

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Opoets99 | Oct 23, 2012, 12:03 PM EDT

79% of Irish public also backed Hitler during WW II

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TayandCake | Oct 22, 2012, 08:28 PM EDT

I'd rather Michelle for Prez

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acemaker | Oct 22, 2012, 07:37 PM EDT

Wheather or not he wins the election, he won't give a crap about Ireland

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jamieLM | Oct 22, 2012, 06:37 PM EDT

I'll be interested in seeing just how much attention Obama pays to Ireland and the Irish after the election. 4 years from now will he be making travel plans to Moneygall or to Martha's Vineyard? Time will tell, but somehow I doubt Ireland will be a priority.

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acemaker | Oct 22, 2012, 04:43 PM EDT

I don't care how many in Ireland favor Obama. If you can't vote in the USA you need to worry and concern yourself with your own countries problems.

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gobdawpaddy | Oct 22, 2012, 03:14 PM EDT

Who cares what the Irish think? A fianna fail led government made a total mess of things in Ireland and were kicked out only 19 months ago.The policies of that government destroyed the lives of so many in Ireland. In an opinion poll last week however, fianna fail increased its support by 4%. The Irish electorate are not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

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PiperMac52 | Oct 22, 2012, 02:33 PM EDT

And based on what, Other than the cult of personality? The man had drove this nation to the brink financially.

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greensod | Oct 22, 2012, 02:29 PM EDT

McNamara: You are right on,on every point.

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MOTOPAC | Oct 22, 2012, 02:22 PM EDT

Pardon the pinky lift. It's not as bad as having one's jobs outsourced to China.

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McNamara31 | Oct 22, 2012, 02:10 PM EDT

pilib04 ...Great point I have to read the article.

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McNamara31 | Oct 22, 2012, 02:07 PM EDT

Ireland: Land of Saints and Scholars gets it right again. Obama is the only choice. The "other" is a venture capitalist, who made his fortunes on the misery of others. He's an outsourcer and member of the elite who's money earns money, and is taxed at a ratio "half" that of a teacher, cop or any other middle class person. If elected, say goodbye to medicare and those American ethics that looked out for the elderly and the poor. This guy will be who ever you want him to be, just to be elected.Don't listen to the ever changing words, look at his past actions; including being 47th in job creation as governor of Massachusetts.

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Mgvsmith | Oct 22, 2012, 01:57 PM EDT

Just for the record micky74007, Obama is not a Muslim. It's always better to keep to the facts. And LisaJHD, is it not the case that the economic crisis in the US and the UK is much more related to unfettered casino bankers than anything Barack Obama has done? If you want to see extreme socialism have a look south at Cuba, that's what it looks like.

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LisaJHD | Oct 22, 2012, 01:27 PM EDT

Those in Ireland see the Democrat party label and think this must be the same philosophically political-minded person as Democrats in the past. While there are some similarities, BHO is NOT of the same cloth. His extreme socialist and destructive economic policies are destroying the USA from within. As a nation, America cannot survive another four years. So too, the world will be a much more dangerous place if BHO is allowed to continue in office.

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