Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

MANILA - Majority of Filipinos think that the outcome of the upcoming United States elections would not matter to the Philippines. On the other hand, those who think that the US polls have an impact on the country prefer Democrat candidate Barack Obama to Republican candidate John McCain, a recent survey of the Social Weather Stations has found.

The Third Quarter 2008 Social Weather Report asked respondents, "Do you think it would be better for the Philippines if Barack Obama or John McCain wins the US Presidential Election?"

An overwhelming 76 percent -- or three of four Filipinos -- said "it does not matter for RP whoever wins."

Meanwhile, 13 percent said it would be "better for RP if Barack Obama wins", and nine percent said it would be "better for RP if John McCain wins." Only two percent answered they "don't know."

A former US colony, the Philippines has been known as a US ally. But most Filipinos have been consistently indifferent on the past two US elections.

"Filipinos are more neutral about the 2008 US presidential election than they were in 2004," SWS said in a statement released on Monday.

In the SWS August 2004 survey, 63 percent said it did not matter who won between George W. Bush and John Kerry, while 26 percent preferred Bush and eight percent preferred Kerry.

The neutral view on the results of the US presidential elections was more evident in Mindanao (79 percent), Luzon outside Metro Manila (78 percent) and the Visayas (77 percent), than in Metro Manila (63 percent).

Neutral opinion was also prevalent among class E (85 percent) and class D (73 percent) than among classes ABC (64 percent).

In terms of educational attainment, neutrality was higher among non-elementary graduates (78 percent), elementary graduates (81 percent), and high school graduates (74 percent) than college graduates (66 percent).

Obama was the top choice among those in Metro Manila (21 percent compared to 12 percent who preferred McCain), among classes ABC, (24 percent compared to 7 percent who preferred McCain) and college graduates (21 percent compared to 11 percent who preferred McCain).

Interest in the US presidential race was also limited, the survey found, with only one in four Filipinos or 25 percent saying they closely followed news about the US elections in the past three months, even as other issues and events proved more popular.