POLL: UNLIKE EUROPEANS, ISRAELIS LOVE AMERICANS AND BUSH

Polls show America's overseas image is sliding dramatically _ but Americans as popular as ever
America's popularity around the world has taken a beating in recent years, according to a set of coordinated polls conducted in 10 different countries. But the survey also found that despite widespread animosity toward President Bush, huge majorities said they have a good opinion of Americans. ... The polls, commissioned by major papers in each country, were conducted in Canada, France, Britain, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Mexico, Israel and Russia. Not all questions were asked in every country. ...

In eight of the nations, more people said their view of America had worsened than improved. Seventy-four percent of Japanese, 70 percent of French, 67 percent of South Koreans, 64 percent of Canadians and 60 percent of Spaniards said they had a lower opinion of America now than a few years ago.

Only in Israel -- whose prime minister, Ariel Sharon, has won strong backing from Bush -- did more people say their view of the United States had improved than worsened, by a margin of 40 percent to 26 percent.

Americans -- the people, not the government -- can feel well-loved, maybe because foreigners so happily soak up U.S. movies, TV and music and frequent McDonald's and Starbucks.
Overall, 68 percent of those questioned said they had a favorable opinion of Americans, compared to 23 percent with a negative view.

Eighty-six percent of Russians, 81 percent of Israelis, 74 percent of Japanese and 73 percent of Canadians reported positive views of Americans. The lowest figure was in Spain, where 47 percent said they had a positive view and 32 percent negative.

In nine countries, huge majorities said they had an unfavorable opinion of Bush, whom critics accuse of conducting a unilateralist foreign policy that disregards the views of other nations, even close friends. ....

People in all 10 countries were asked who they hoped to see win the White House Nov. 2. Kerry was favored in eight of the nations including France, where 72 percent supported him compared to 16 percent for Bush. ...

Bush came out on top in Israel by a margin of 50 percent to 24 percent and in Russia, 52 percent to 48 percent.