Obama Better For World Economy, Poll Finds

Obama is better for the world economy, a poll of business executives across the world this week found.

The poll asked the business executives whether they think the global economy will prosper if incumbent President Barack Obama wins re-election over Mitt Romney, Reuters reported. The result: Most found Obama better for the world economy over Romney.

The 1,700 respondent poll, conducted by the Financial Times, found that 42.7 percent considered Obama better for the world economy, while just 20.5 percent thought Romney would be better to spur the economy worldwide. The remaining respondents said neither was better for the world’s economy.

Though the rest of the world clearly thinks Obama is better for the world economy, that doesn’t necessarily mean much for his re-election chances. In the United States, a slim majority of respondents believed Romney is better for the overall economy than Obama would be.

The poll was conducted before Romney selected running mate Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Congressman who crafted the GOP’s long-term deficit reduction plan. His selection gave Romney an immediate boost in the Reuters/Ipsos Poll conducted this week, but Obama still holds slim leads in many of the most important swing states.

The selection of Ryan ensures that the economy and deficit reduction will play a large role in the election. Ryan’s ambitious plan would slash the long-term deficit by reducing entitlement programs and turning Medicare into what Democrats all a “voucher system.”

The poll finding Obama better for the world economy will likely end up as a sidenote to the election. Romney has vowed to make the US economy the central issue, so the thoughts of business executives worldwide will likely have little effect on it.