FOR a nervous world the US election marks two historic firsts. Never has an American presidential choice so obsessed the planet and never has the world been so categorical in its preference for one candidate.

If it were left to the voters of the world, John Kerry would stroll into the White House, leaving President Bush buried deep in a landslide. With few exceptions, from Europe to Asia, Africa to Latin America, people want an end to probably the most globally unpopular presidency on record.

A chorus of contempt for the Bush Administration, fuelled mainly by the Iraq war but also by old-fashioned anti-Americanism, flows from the media and opinion polls, from cafés, tearooms and workplaces. In France, the epicentre of Western Bush-bashing, Paris Match summed up the choice: “It is between the enlightened Democrat and the Republican maniac.”

In Europe the election has become almost a local event. Television viewers are being treated to an education in American life as never before. Broadcasts from town meetings and shopping malls seek to explain why so many Americans want to return Mr Bush in the face of what Europe sees as common sense. Le Monde, the left-leaning French daily, has published verbatim texts of all the campaign debates.

International surveys show that the US is for the first time seen in many supposedly friendly countries as an adversary, especially in the Muslim world. Even Australia, which has troops in Iraq, backs Mr Kerry over Mr Bush by 55 per cent to 22.

A Globescan international survey of 35 countries showed Mr Bush leading in only three: Nigeria, Poland and the Philippines, while opinion in India and Thailand was divided. Israelis generally favour Mr Bush and the latest Russian polls show that 52 per cent back him.

Mr Bush won Polish hearts during the first presidential debate when he chided Mr Kerry for forgetting Poland in his list of Iraq allies. His support in Asia has much to do with Mr Kerry’s pledges to curb labour outsourcing to cheaper nations. The Bangkok Post said: “If Kerry wins we may see a rise of a new and particularly anti-Asian protectionism to stifle free trade in both goods and services.”

Many governments have abandoned diplomatic caution and shown their desire for a Kerry presidency. Venezuela’s President Chávez said that he deems relations with the Bush Administration to be impossible. Mexico has proclaimed its preference for a Democrat next door.

In France, President Chirac is so eager for a Kerry victory that ministers have been order to breathe not a word in favour of the Democrat for fear of helping Mr Bush. Gerhard Schröder, the German Chancellor, who fell out with Mr Bush over Iraq, is playing safe. “It is a tight contest and we should keep out of it,” he said.

Mr Bush has received some overt support from friendly leaders such as Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi and Japan’s Junichiro Koizumi, both of whom have troops in Iraq. President Putin of Russia, who enjoys Washington’s aquiescence in Moscow’s “war against terror” in Chechnya, has made clear that he wants his old friend to stay in the White House. China’s communist leaders, who dislike regime change, prefer the American status quo.

Some of the most surprising support for Mr Bush has come from Iran, a member of his “axis of evil”. “We have seen nothing good from the Democrats,” said Hassan Rowhani, head of Tehran’s Supreme National Security Council. “We should not forget that most sanctions and economic pressures were imposed on Iran during the time of Clinton. Bush did not take any dangerous action against Iran.”

A significant minority of Britons may favour Mr Bush but no such support is publicly audible on the Continent. Senior business leaders privately back the present Administration but the media, politicians and chattering classes have monopolised the election, reducing it to a race between good and evil.

From right to left it is near impossible to unearth a favourable opinion on “the cowboy”, while Mr Kerry is portrayed as a cross between James Stewart and John Kennedy.

“The future of the Western world hangs on this election,” said France’s Le Nouvel Observateur newspaper. With the media so hostile to Mr Bush, it is surprising that as many as 10 to 12 per cent of the public in France, Germany and Scandinavia still say that they would vote for him.

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