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Obama-mania foreign in some parts of Middle East

  • Story Highlights
  • Obama's vote of confidence much lower in Jordan than Europe, survey shows
  • Many Jordanians do not hold favorable view of the U.S., according to Pew study
  • Obama visited Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday
  • Some think next U.S. president will bring no change to Middle East, professor says
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From Hala Gorani
CNN International
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(CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama on Tuesday toured the Jordanian capital of Amman, where the much talked about "Obama-mania" is not that easy to find.

Barack Obama visited Amman, Jordan, where residents are less enthusiastic about the presidential candidate.

Barack Obama visited Amman, Jordan, where residents are less enthusiastic about the presidential candidate.

Just 22 percent of Jordanians who are following the U.S. presidential election have confidence in Obama, according to a recent survey from the Pew Research Center.

And in the nearby countries of Egypt, Lebanon and Turkey, Obama also gets negative reviews.

Obama still fares better than John McCain in those countries, but in Jordan the two candidates are about equal.

But the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate is revered as a superstar in other parts of the world.

In France and Germany -- where Obama will travel later this week -- more than 80 percent have confidence in the senator from Illinois, while just a third say they have confidence in McCain.

Obama's numbers are only slightly lower in Britain, another stop on this week's trip abroad. According to Pew's 24-nation survey, 74 percent express confidence in him there, compared to 44 percent for McCain. Video Watch more on Europe's view of Obama »

The results are apart of Pew's Global Attitudes Project, which was released last month. The results from Jordan carry a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, and the information from the European countries cited has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Jordanians in general hold a negative view of the United States, with just 19 percent saying they see the country favorably, according to Pew's survey.

But among those in Amman who are more familiar with American politics, both Obama and McCain supporters can be found.

Samih Hashem al-Turk, who owns a restaurant in the capital's downtown, says he keeps up with the English and Arabic news networks, and Obama would be his choice if he were to vote. Video Watch what Jordanians say about the election »

"We want change," he said. "We're tired of Bush."

Throwing falafel in boiling oil, Saad Zaaloul, another Obama supporter, speaks up.

"I want him to win and bring peace to the Middle East," he says.

But nearby, there are others who back McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee.

"He has history, he has experience. Obama -- we hope to see what he can do," says one supporter of the senator from Arizona.

But many in the region are skeptical of both candidates.

Just 19 percent of Jordanians say U.S. foreign policy will change for the better with a new president, according to the Pew survey.

Hassan Barari, a professor at the University of Jordan, says the lack of faith in the next president is because the United States has not historically been seen as an honest broker in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"Because they think that no matter who is going to be in office, there will be no big change in the Middle East," he says.

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As for Iraq, even among those who opposed the war, there is some worry that Obama's plan for a troop drawdown could end up being more damaging than a continuing American presence.

"A growing number of people began to realize the American presence in Iraq is probably good to stabilize Iraq in the medium or short-term," Barari says.

All About Amman (Jordan)Middle EastU.S. Presidential Election

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