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.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.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"
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.
Opoets99 | Oct 23, 2012, 12:03 PM EDT
79% of Irish public also backed Hitler during WW II
TayandCake | Oct 22, 2012, 08:28 PM EDT
I'd rather Michelle for Prez
acemaker | Oct 22, 2012, 07:37 PM EDT
Wheather or not he wins the election, he won't give a crap about Ireland
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.
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.
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.
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.
greensod | Oct 22, 2012, 02:29 PM EDT
McNamara: You are right on,on every point.
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.
McNamara31 | Oct 22, 2012, 02:10 PM EDT
pilib04 ...Great point I have to read the article.
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.
McNamara31 | 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.
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.
micky74007 | Oct 22, 2012, 01:19 PM EDT
We will gladly give you this muslim and his lap dog biden. they are your's to keep. just keep them away from us.
pilib04 | Oct 22, 2012, 01:08 PM EDT
The Salt Lake Tribune endorsed President Obama for re-election because they "can't trust" Romney. The SLTrib is the largest newspaper in Utah. Still clueless? Utah is THE Mormon state! Can't Trust Robme.
71regiment | Oct 22, 2012, 01:04 PM EDT
Why does the Irish media even have a poll about who will become the next president of the USA. The information that they pass on to thier readers and listeners is all one sided, and biased. What would they think if Obama where to get re-elceted and force all the US companies that are in Ireland, to return to the USA? Obama is perhaps the least experinced president the USA has ever had and it shows by his failed record and some folks want more of that!
borefield | Oct 22, 2012, 01:01 PM EDT
My advice is to keep lifting the black stuff to their mouths. They will need much more of it the day after the election.
pilib04 | Oct 22, 2012, 01:01 PM EDT
Romney still at 3%. God Bless our native land. Standing up for Offaly's favorite son. Is feidir linn.
pilib04 | Oct 22, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT
Fran Connor, do try and keep up. What you read here is not opinions of journalist/writers, but rewrites of news articles from Ireland. These were two different polls. I'm sure you are aware that there is more than one polling group in Ireland (and just about anywhere else).
lokionline | Oct 22, 2012, 12:00 PM EDT
They held a "put a blue ball in a box for Obama or a red one in a second box for Romney" in the lobby of the recent Conservative convention in London. Guess who won, narrowly yet convincingly?
lokionline | Oct 22, 2012, 11:55 AM EDT
Obama looks like he's forcing that Guinness down, what a waste,...of Guinness.
MegK311 | Oct 22, 2012, 11:42 AM EDT
I am voting for Romney
saraindc | Oct 22, 2012, 11:34 AM EDT
who really cares anyway - yes they prefer the democrats to the republics for all the obvious reasons but they can't vote in the USA so why anyone is even wasting money polling that question defies logic - we should worry more about who our own voters are voting for - beyond that its mute what anyone else thinks!!
kmurray102 | Oct 22, 2012, 11:26 AM EDT
Sorry, this Irish American does not support Obama.
joeboy1 | Oct 22, 2012, 10:50 AM EDT
Where do you get your facts from ? if you think you are going to sway this independent voter with your bogas info.you wrong let,s go Mitt
katiemac | Oct 22, 2012, 10:39 AM EDT
They also back illegal immigration to the US if they are the ones benefiting from it. Let's face it, Ireland, Socialism has turned your brains to mush. Thank God, you actually have no say in the matter. These polls "What would you do IF you could do it?" are, at best, a waste of energy.
crny925 | Oct 22, 2012, 10:34 AM EDT
Thank God they can't vote!
Joe Kelsall | Oct 22, 2012, 10:03 AM EDT
Well, this Irishman does support Barak Obama! What the poll really shows is the 79% of Irish people are not taken in by an 'asset stripping blow in' whose only interests are self aggrandisement funded by the State of Israel. The Irish recognise in Romney the greed and corruption visited upon the nation of Ireland by people of Romney's ilk. A vote for Romney is a vote for a war with Iran, on Israel's behalf. Just what we need! Romney has become rich by the impoverishment of American citizens and the selling off of their assets to China. Romney is a carpetbagging liar who would betray his own mother for thirty pieces of silver. Tog go bog e!
simplesandy | Oct 22, 2012, 10:01 AM EDT
REALLYYYYYY!!!! Is this why America has so many illegal Irish? Because Obama feels sorry for them and welcomes them into America? He doesn’t give a rat’s arse about your country. (Read his book) FFS!!! I am an American living here in Ireland for last 7 years and I think the Irish should keep their opinions for their own country that is going down fast. And if you don’t agree with me stick your head out the front door. Why is it so important to let Americans know how Ireland feels about Americans Gov.? They have their own problems. I guess it’s easier to worry about someone else’s problems than yours that you can’t seem to fix. Here is a fact. Ireland is the highest cost of living country in the world. Did you know that? And it is sucking the people dry. Tourism is wayyyy down here and the consumers here are paying for it. The young are leaving this country by boat loads and can’t come back because they are going to other countries living illegally. Now there is more a worry for you than to care about who gets elected in USA. And remember this. For being a country who loves God sure gets lost when it wants Obama elected who don't care about the same God as you. hmmmm
Fran Connor | Oct 22, 2012, 09:43 AM EDT
Last week this site said it was 96%. Better have Patrick and Cahir poll their friends and family again.
Getlin2 | Oct 22, 2012, 09:39 AM EDT
And 100% of the world's muslims Support their brother in the white house, President Obama.
kelauggie1 | Oct 22, 2012, 09:37 AM EDT
Thank goodness we don't allow Irish citizens to vote here. However, if they had any idea of what an atrocious president Obama has been, they might change their minds. But of course, the liberal media feeds their customers a pile of garbage, and willing consumers eat it up. That happens here in the US, also, but I think the voting public has finally seen the destruction Obama is causing, so at this point, it has to be "Anyone but Obama".
yrrab24 | Oct 22, 2012, 09:33 AM EDT
Well 79% of American Irish--Don't support him. I being one.