Here's a quote from a British poster on the Guardian's website that worded it better than I could have...

"I am surprised Obama did so well because as [a] person [who] has travelled to the USA and seen how much more openly prejudice the USA is compared to the UK. So to see a state that is 95% white vote for a black candidate, especially when more people came out to vote for the Democrats. I am pleasantly surprised and it seems Obama has most of the youth vote. Maybe people around the world have underestimated the American public.

I do think America needs Obama to be president more than any of the candidates on both sides. To me Obama seems to have the charm of a young Tony Blair, but none of his spin. Unlike the typical US Presidential candidates he not massaging America patriotism, by saying how great America is, he is actually talking about the important issues and the problems in America like the War, Economy and the Health services. I still find it a joke that apparently the richest nation in the world doesn't have a national health service, when even African third world countries in debt are start up free health services. I have never in my life seen the USA so unpopular globally and the US Government so distrust across all continents. Due to Bush and his Administration America is disliked in Asia, Africa, South America, Europe and the public in so friendly nations like the UK, Australia and Canada have lost respect for America due to Bush. Bush was a man that lacked the ability to be statesman, dubiously won his first term and started an illegal war for oil. But the world lost all respect for the American public when they decided to vote for him in for a second term. He has divided a nation, ruined the reputation of America around the world, ruined the value of the dollar, ruined the American economy and is about to be taken over as the most powerful nation in the world by china. Rather than America being a beacon hope and prosperity for world is now seen as a place of corruption, dishonestly, ignorance, hypocritical morally, where it is okay to torture people, but abortion and free health care is bad and large parts of the world thanks to the Neo Cons view America as a country run by fascist imperialist.

Only one man can undo the amount of damage Bush has done to America's reputation worldwide and he is Obama. The only reason the world cares about this glorified opinion poll is Barack Obama. The world wanted to know whether America has learned its lessons from Bush and wants to vote for a more progressive leader like Obama. You can tell the world wants Obama to be the next President, because his face is the one on all the newspapers around the world. How can Bin Ladin claim America is fascist country out to destroy Islam and the Arab world, when Obama's vote is not Evangelical Christian and he was always against the war? How can Africa and South America state that America is imperialistic country out to make money out of this region not caring about the damage it does to this region with Obama? How can Europeans claim that the USA has no interest in the environment with Obama in charge? The answer is they can't or won't. Bill Clinton was a very popular President around the world, but if Obama becomes President will have a global popularity that could surpass even Bill Clinton. I remember when Bill Clinton went to Africa and he was mobbed with Africans waving American flags (In stark contrast to Bush who was greeted to protest when he visited Africa). If Obama wins you would see these kind of Clinton like scenes all over the world for all his state visits.

At the end of the year if America votes for Obama as president the American nation and public will gain a lot of goodwill from the world it lost with Bush. Rather than viewed as a nation of badly educated, ill-informed, ignorant and backward people would be seen as a country that is still capable of being one of the most progressive nations in the western world."

Which reminds me, it wouldn't only be America to gain it's first black president, he may be the first non-white Western leader ever!!!