- Title: RUSSIA: Russians happy with Obama U.S election win
- Date: 7th November 2012
- Summary: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL MOSCOW, RUSSIA (NOVEMBER 7, 2012) (REUTERS) TRAFFIC NEAR KREMLIN RUSSIAN FLAG OVER KREMLIN TOWERS TRAFFIC NEAR KREMLIN (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) MOSCOW RESIDENT MIKHAIL, SAYING: "So far I don't see anything bad (in Obama's win). Although they always liked to do something bad to us, it's always been like that." (SOUNDBI
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- Country: Russia
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA2EHFQE0X9LY2T80C4IFF5J1EL
- Story Text: Russia wakes up to Barack Obama's win in the U.S. presidential election and sighs a relief.
Russians woke up on Wednesday (November 7) to the news of Barack Obama's re-election as the U.S. president and expressed their staisfaction and relief.
Obama won a second term in the White House on Tuesday (November 6), overcoming deep doubts among voters about his handling of the U.S. economy to score a clear victory over Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
"So far I don't see anything bad (in Obama's win). Although they always liked to do something bad to us, it's always been like that," Moscow resident Mikhail said.
"Well, Romney considers Russia worse than Taliban. I think Obama would be better, let everything remain in its place I think," Alexander added.
During his campaign U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, labeled Russia America's "number one geopolitical foe".
"At least we already know him (Obama), he's already been there, therefore... And this Mitt, he's a black horse, we don't know what he is and who he is," Moscow resident Galina reacted to Obama's win.
"I think everything will remain as it has been, Obama has not treated us too badly, and I think he's not bad too," another local resident Viktor added.
Russians are used to presidents getting re-elected, with Vladimir Putin having secured his third presidential term earlier this year. Many in Russia see that as a sign of stability.
"Actually, people say about Romney that if he came to power in America it would have impacted Russia very much. That he has a totally negative view about Russia. But I would like a bit more stability, just a little bit," Moscow resident Darya said.
Obama launched the 2009 "reset" of U.S.-Russian relations that helped in several areas such as arms cuts and trade, including completing Russia's accession to the World
Trade Organization.
Romney pledged to "reset the reset" with policies aimed at discouraging Russian aggression and encouraging democratic political and economic reform. He said he would work
with Europeans to decrease their dependence on Russian energy and reach out to Russian civil society.
In the Oct. 22 debate, Romney accused Obama of viewing Russia with "rose-colored glasses" given Russia's repeated U.N. veto of Western efforts to facilitate a political transition in Syria.
The president mocked Romney's harsh campaign rhetoric on Russia, saying in the Oct. 22 debate that "the 1980s, they're now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because, you know, the Cold War's been over for 20 years."
"I think it removes one source of uncertainty globally today, and that's got to be good for Russia. But you know, Russia's had four years to work with Obama, there's been an attempt to press a reset button. Although the relationship has improved somewhat, there's still a long way to go," said Roland Nash, chief strategist at a Moscow-based hedge fund Verno Capital.
"I think they (Russians) would have been quite worried if Romney had won the election. You know, since Romney declared that Russia was America's number one geopolitical foe which was a bit of a shock to most Russians, and certainly in that sense over here, there, I think there would have been fear about what actually that meant in terms of foreign policy and business policy towards Russia. So in that sense there will be, I think, relief that Obama has won," Nash added.
The Russian stock market rose, and the rouble strengthened on Wednesday on the news of Obama's election win. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None