The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Washington

If the whole world could vote for US president, Democrat Barack Obama would win by a landslide, according to polls conducted in 17 countries by Reader's Digest magazine.

Respondents voted "overwhelmingly" for Obama in every country polled except the United States, where Republican John McCain was preferred by a narrow margin, the magazine said in an article posted on its website.

However, the surveys, with about 1,000 particpants in each country, were conducted several months ago, from June 2 to July 7, for an article in the November issue of the magazine. "It's Obama by a landslide-except in the country in which he's actually running for president," said John Fredricks, polling director for the magazine.