[The
Independent, U.K.]
Bahrain
Tribune, Bahrain
Overwhelmingly, Bahrain Chooses Barack Obama
"Obama
has a big chance to win because he's a Muslim … He is a strong contender but I
fear he will be assassinated."
-- Bahraini citizen Rasha Ali
Bahrain - Bahrain Tribune - Home Page
(English)
According
to a straw poll conducted by the Bahrain Tribune, Bahrain's
multicultural public clearly prefers U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama
for taking on the job of world’s most powerful man.
Of
the 44 face-to-face interviews conducted by the Bahrain Tribune over the
weekend, 24, or 54.5 percent of respondents, said that their choice for the U.S.
presidency was Democrat Barack Obama, compared to just three, or 6.8 percent, who
preferred Republican John McCain.
The
remaining 17 respondents, or 38.6 percent, had no preference or felt they knew
too little about the election to choose.
When
asked why they chose Obama, four respondents - two Bahrainis, a dual Bahraini
and Saudi citizen in his fifties, and a 13-year-old British boy - said it was
because Obama, whose middle name is Hussein, was a Muslim - although he's
actually a Christian.
“Obama
is Muslim and he will win,” said Hisham Al Saidi, who holds dual Saudi and Bahraini passports. “He's
the right person to bring change in the U.S., which is desperately needed at
this juncture.”
Two
interviewees said they feared Obama would be assassinated if elected in
Tuesday’s elections.
“Obama
has a big chance to win because he's a Muslim,” said Bahraini citizen Rasha Ali, who is in his thirties. “He is a strong
contender but I fear he will be assassinated,” he added.
Bahraini
Bassem Al Seyadi said he
was “certain” Obama would be elected on November 4. “But it will only be for a
short period because he'll be assassinated like Kennedy.” He said Obama’s
popularity in the Kingdom is reflected among non-Americans around the world, who
believe that if he is elected, his presidency would be a transformational one
which in comparison to the presidency of the outgoing George W. Bush, augers a
less militaristic approach to global affairs.
“Obama
knows what American citizens want, and as far as the world is concerned, he’s a
very peaceful man,” said 31-year-old Bahraini Ayman.
“We wish him all the best and hope he will win.”
Fellow
Bahraini, 54 year-old Ahmed, said an Obama win would be welcome as it “will
change the strategy of the U.S.” in the Middle East. “Bush’s time as President
has not been good. Bush likes blood too much and Obama will stop the war (in
Iraq),” said Ahmed.
Of
the three McCain supporters, two were members of the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet.
“Obama
talks too much and I don’t believe a damn thing he says,” said 24-year-old Roy
(name changed), from the U.S. Navy.
