The assessment of U.S.-Russia relations has worsened over a year. However Russians respect the current president of the United States Barack Obama; and only 15% believe that America needs another leader.

MOSCOW, November 6, 2012. On the U.S. presidential Election Day Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the attitudes of Russians towards the United States, towards the current American president Barack Obama; as well as how they assess the U.S. - Russia relations.

Over the recent two years the p[positive attitudes towards the United States has been weakening; the index has grown down from 32 to 20 points. For the time being, 53% of Russians favor America (59% in 2010). The number of Russians who have negative attitudes has increased to 32% (versus 27% two years ago). Those who perceive America positively are basically Russians with high level of income (65%), young respondents (63%), supporters of United Russia and A Just Russia parties (59 and 61, respectively), and Russians with high level of education  (58%). Russians who negatively perceive the United States are mainly communists (51%), Russians who have low level of income (43%), who are middle aged and who have secondary special education (37%, per each).

Fewer Russians positively assess Russia-U.S. relations (53 versus 69% in 2010). Today 38% of Russians consider the relations normal, 10% – good and 5% – friendly. The number of those who assess the bilateral relations rather negatively is increasing (42% versus 23% two years ago).  Twenty-six percent of Russians regard the bilateral relations as cool, 14% – as strained, 2% – as hostile. The index*** has dropped from 46 points in 2010 to 9 points. Those who assess the Russian-American relations positively are mostly supporters of United Russia party (60%); they are opposed by adherents of non-parliament parties and CPRF supporters (57 and 56%, respectively).

Whereas most of Russians could not express their attitudes towards Barack Obama in the beginning of his presidential term, today they respect the choice of Americans id in spite the fact that not everything that Obama does is appreciated by Russians (40 versus 23% in 2009). Every fifth Russian respects and likes the American leader (winter 2010 – 29%). Those who believe that America needs another leader are in the minority. The share of them has increased over the recent years from 6 to 15-16%. Those who respect and like Barack Obama are basically highly educated Russians (23%) and residents of big cities (33%). Those who negatively perceive Obama are residents of million cities (31%) and supporters of LDPR party (22%).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on September 15-16, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

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