As his first project with MySpace, Brenner spearheaded a partnership with MTV, leading to the online interactive political engagement forums of the 2008 Presidential election. He was formerly a senior editorial producer at CNN.

Brenner has a B.A. in International Relations from Tufts University and a Masters in International and Public Affairs (MIPA) from the University of Hong Kong.

Check out his Myspace profile, which has a great music playlist, including Milli Vanilli’s Blame it on the Rain.

Prior to politics, Thaksin was a policeman who made it big selling computer to the force. He went on to found Shin Corporation and Advanced Info Service – the largest mobile phone operator in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia.

In addition to the video interview on this blog , I had Thaksin’s first interview upon being elected Prime Minister in 2001.

As a fugitive from Thai justice living in exile, Thaksin splits his time between Hong Kong, Dubai and other countries that do not have extradition treaties with Thailand. He left Britain when his visa was revoked.

Thaksin obtained a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University in the United States in 1975, and three years later received a doctorate in Criminal Justice at Sam Houston State University in Texas, with a dissertation on “An Analysis of the Relationship Between the Criminal Justice Educational Process and the Attitude of the Student Toward the Rule of Law.”

Net, a friend who also works for Facebook, described how Israel’s politicians were the latest to use Facebook Connect prominently.

Many Loyal Readers ask who we are hearing for Obama’s Ambassador to China, now that it does appear the candidates for Japan have been narrowed to Joe Nye and Joe Nye.

If Harvard Prof. Nye is formally offered, and accepts, no group on earth will be more relieved than Japanese journalists here, who have been reporting this as a “done deal” for weeks.

But to be serious, it DOES sound as though the deal is about to be done…so stay tuned.

Whether it comes before Secretary of State Clinton’s North Asia ramble next week (due in Tokyo Feb. 12, then the ROK, winding up in Beijing around Feb. 19) is anyone’s guess.

Sources say A/S EAP Chris Hill, to be succeeded at some point this Spring by Kurt Campbell, will accompany Clinton, something of a “farewell tour” for him, before he leaves for Baghdad.

Parenthetically, several Loyal Readers asked why we didn’t “report” Hill’s selection for Iraq, and the answer is…in the past, whenever we got a rumor of Hill’s job future, we always emailed it to him, and usually within the hour, got a cheerfully “colorful” denial.

This time…nothing either way. So upon reflection, we should have taken Sherlock Holmes’ advice on the dog who didn’t bark, and run with it. Anyhow…next time.

Oh…this started out about “names” for China…

Informed indications are that this posting is seen as VERY important by Obama personally, so don’t be surprised if the final selection is someone who fits several criteria, not the least being a Big Player close to the President himself.

This does not rule out in advance the names we DO hear…but it should put into perspective what the judgment criteria will likely be.

We’ve written in the past that there are two basic types of “lists”…the “this person MUST be given a job, where shall we place?”, and, “this is an important JOB, who can we send?”

In their new book, “Difficult Transitions”, two folks who just happen to be major State Department decision-makers, Deputy Secretary Jim Steinberg, and soon-to-be officially nominated Kurt Campbell A/S EAP, somewhat more cheekily talk about three criteria:

“The Worthies”, defined as recognized experts but not necessarily Big Names or Political Players; “The Allstars”, meaning Big Players who might also be “Must hire…somewhere”; and “The Usual Suspects”…folks who always manage to get their names on lists, but who may not have much more chance for a job than me or thee.

We have far more sense than to even THINK about characterizing the following by ANY possible category, but think it IS useful to see this list of unusually high-quality names, folks with real depth in China affairs, and the USG, going back many years:

Most frequently mentioned, NOT in order, are National Committee on US-China Relations president Steve Orlins, and major political/Obama donor John Thornton, he of the Thornton Center at Brookings…home of the newly-minted Senior Director for Asia, NSC, Jeff Bader;

And in the China specialist/academic cone, most frequently noted are former Clinton DAS Susan Shirk, former Clinton NSC Ken Lieberthal, and David Shambaugh, professor at George Washington U here, and recognized expert on PLA modernization, especially vis-a-vis Taiwan.

For discussion purposes, we asked an informed source “what about Robert Rubin?” and got back, “not confirmable…you know why…”

(Hint…think Citibank, think Daschle, think too much money, think “just too hot right now…”)

If any Loyal Readers think THEY should have been on this list, our lunch calendar is open….you know what to do…

I chose the Dude, of course.

Barack Obama’s half-brother who lives in China, running an Internet company, you can find out more information at the profile page I have compiled on Mark Ndesandjo.

Posted on the Chinese video sharing website Youku, the clip made the front page. This implies a wide awareness of Ndesandjo among the Chinese population. The anonymity that Ndesandjo has tried to maintain may well be over now. The reluctant celebrity has hit it big!

(h/t to Alex Bowman)

As I have detailed in the past – and on this profile page about Mark Ndesandjo – Obama’s half-brother has lived in the south China boomtown city of Shenzhen for more than seven years.

The event was organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China to benefit Orphans in Shenzhen, South China and Sichuan via The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. The China Foundation is sanctioned by both the Chinese Central Government and the United Nations, according to the AmCham.

Ndesandjo is co-chair of the fundraising committee, along with the AmCham president, Harley Seyedin.

Entry was RMB99 (US$14) at the door for an evening of food, drink, great music and a chance to meet the US Consul General and community leaders. Attendees were urged to donate an additional 999 RMB (US$145).

Ndesandjo did not work to publicize his link with Obama in the email or poster publicity. He has worked to support an orphanage in Shenzhen for many years and has never pushed for recognition as Obama’s half-brother.

Ndesandjo started a chain of restaurants in southern China called Cabin BBQ and the publicity for the fundraiser referred to him as a strategic market consultant. This is a reference to his company, World Nexus, that helps Chinese companies set up websites for export.

At the concert, Ndesandjo had “a thin mustache, shaved head and a gold stud in his left earlobe,” the AP reported.

Any mention of Barack Obama?

He told the crowd that chamber president, Harley Seyedin, was fond of the president-elect. Ndesandjo added, “I like my president, too!” That was the closest he came to mentioning Barack Obama.

He also said that would be flying to Washington on Saturday, failing which he would “lose face”.

He played – at times hunched over the keyboard in passion – as his Chinese wife watched, the AP reported. The songs he played began with a Chinese tune called “Liuyang River” followed by what he said was “Chopin’s First Nocturne” and finally a jazz tune by Fats Waller called “Viper’s Drag.”

The event raised a grand total of RMB250,000 (US$36,558).

After the charity event, Ndesandjo chatted with friends and shook hands as he slowly walked out of the venue pursued by journalists hoping for a comment. He slipped into an elevator and continued to ignore questions as the door slowly closed, AP said.

UPDATE: Brent Deverman of Shenzhenparty.com attended the party and took some great photos (two of which appear above.)

The intent is to demonstrate the Dopplr service, but it also gives you an idea about the amount of travel on the campaign trail. (92 percent of the way to the moon!)

One of my favorite Dopplr features is where they compare your “personal velocity” to an animal. Obama is six-lined race runner lizard.

Full version on the Dopplr website.

He suggests Bob Rubin??!! who recently quit Citi.

Anyone have further thoughts?

On Monday, we inadvertently started a Japanese media feeding frenzy on who will be Obama’s Ambassador to Tokyo, with a one line comment, “think Joe Nye“.

Last night we noted that Nye himself was being equivocal on whether he was being asked, and whether he would say yes.

Today, there’s a report saying newly-retired Republican Sen. (and big Obama booster) Chuck Hagel, is on the list for Japan.

He isn’t. Tonite, we can supply the answer to some of the “facts”, and more importantly, how to assess the “ambassadorial” reports.

-0-

AMBASSADORS…there are lists, and there are lists. The only lists which really have been
discussed and vetted at the Obama level are of Major Players, in quotes, for whom a Big Job simply HAS to be found, Transition sources make very clear in private conversation.

So when someone tells you so-and-so is on the list for Tokyo, Beijing, London, et al, ask yourself whether they qualify on the basis of a “must hire” senior player…or because those are important postings, and someone important should be picked.

So…Chuck Hagel, Richard Danzig,  Susan Rice, maybe even Robert Rubin (who formally quit Citi today)…folks like that are talked about at the Obama Himself level.

These are people personally important to Obama, about whom the question is raised by Obama and his top decision-makers, “what do we offer them?”

What is NOT (yet) taking place at the Obama level is “who are we going to put in country-X”?

Of course there ARE conversations at the senior affected Transition level, sounding out potential candidates for key postings, and that of course includes Beijing, Tokyo, NATO and so forth.

What this means is that after the election, and through this week, conversations at the Obama level were held with folks like Hagel, to be specific, in terms of “what would you like?”

And the conversation included a possible list of jobs, including ambassadorships which Hagel might accept, along with other things.

Our sources say (and New America Foundation blogmeister Steve Clemons reports today) that Hagel politely declined the opportunity to serve in Beijing, Tokyo and London, because he didn’t want to uproot his family, and because he has just launched a new venture with former World Bank president James Wolfensohn.

-0-

JAPAN…Beijing…as noted, we inadvertently started a media feeding frenzy on who Obama will pick for Tokyo, and there’s starting to be one, now, for Beijing.

The “story” on professor and co-author with Rich Armitage of the Nye-Armitage Report of
2000…Harvard’s Joe Nye…has been on a roller coaster all week.

The informed consensus today is that with Hagel (above) clearly saying “thanks, but no thanks” to any ambassadorial slot, the path remains potentially open for Nye IF the Obama folks (with Hillary Clinton’s team playing a role) chose.

It seems clear that informal discussions have been held with Nye, at some level, and that the situation today is that Nye hasn’t said yes, and he hasn’t said no.

However, a cautionary note when you get into discussing “who’s on The List”, and you are not at the Danzig/Rice/Hagel level…the discussion will be more focused on the posting, and the utility of the candidate TO the posting, than on the candidate, and where can he/she be placed?

So, purely for the sake of discussion, while to us Asia/Japan hands, Joe Nye clearly is a nifty choice to send to Japan, for reasons we need not bother to enumerate…ask yourself what happens if Obama and his top people have been asking themselves, “what do we do for Robert Rubin?”

Rubin, who played a major “confidence building” role for Obama’s economic and financial positioning, during the Campaign, formally resigned from Citi today…and there are those who closely monitor the Transiton who say you need to put Rubin on any list for both Tokyo and Beijing.

Our point: make sure you can balance the candidate with the job, and can calculate which is the critical decision-factor, when weighing all the delicious gossip now flowing freely.

And always remember, shocking as it may seem, some folks are, gasp, actually ambitious enough to float rumors about themselves. So always ask yourself why you are hearing what you are hearing, when you hear it.

Still my beating heart…

Nelson confirms some of the appointments he speculated about in my posting of Monday:

President-elect Obama today announced the top assistants to Secretary of Defense Gates, confirming earlier reports that the Deputy Secretary will be Bill Lynn, and the Undersecretary for Policy will be Michele Flournoy. (As confirmed Monday (Jan. 5), Kurt Campbell will be the Assistant Secretary for East Asia & the Pacific, at State.)

See full text of announcement/bios for Flournoy and Lynn here at Obama’s Change.gov.

We can also confirm that the likely nominees for two Asst. Secretary postings of vital importance to Asia will be, as previously reported, retired Marine Gen. “Chip” Gregson for A/S Asia, and (this is new) former Ambassador to S. Korea, Russia and NATO Sandy Vershbow as A/S for DOD’s largest bureau, ISA.

See the text discussion, below, for what “ISA” actually means. How these DOD folks will interact with Hillary Clinton’s emerging empire of Special Envoys outside the direct organizational box?

Good question..perhaps for the NSC’s Gen. Jones to address.

On the Special Envoys, the job accepted by Dick Holbrooke has been clarified by informed sources to be ONLY responsible for Afghanistan/Pakistan, and NOT India.

How this works as a practical matter remains to be seen, but it may help assuage Indian officials who feel Holbrooke is too Kashmir focused.

Holbrooke has spent the past year on Afghanistan/Pakistan, and you can Google a speech he gave on it at CSIS last March.

Our brief Report line of Monday, “for Ambassador to Japan, think Joe Nye” set off a vigorous round of press speculation (and cheerfully conflicting reports as late as today) that Nye had already said “no, but thanks”, and then, later, that he hadn’t.

Said no, that is.

Final word for today, to paraphrase my late Dad when pushed my by late Ma on something he didn’t want to talk about: “yes…no…maybe”.

The point being that the notion of the co-author of the Nye-Armitage Report of 2000 being sent to Tokyo may yet play out…stay tuned…but a final offer and decision has not been completed.

More details after the fold…

-O-

DOD…Obama’s appointments today help fill the line-up headed by holdover Secretary Gates, with two top officials very familiar with N. Asia security issues, the Deputy-designate Bill Lynn, lately of Raytheon, and Undersecretary for Policy Michele Flournoy, co-founder with Kurt Campbell of the Center for National Security.

Campbell, as we confirmed Monday (Jan. 5), will be the Assistant Secretary for East Asia & the Pacific, at State.

The Lynn appointment is notable for two reasons…his personal expertise, including management skills, and the “mystery” of whatever happened to Obama fundraiser/advisor/confidant Richard Danzig, whom “everyone knew” would be the Deputy to Gates, and the secretary-in-waiting.

As was reported when Gates agreed to stay on under Obama, the “deal” was that Gates would only work for a year or two…whatever was required to manage the pivot from Iraq into Afghanistan.

The idea was that Danzig would sit at the right hand and learn the ropes. Obviously something happened in the interim, and so far, at least, Danzig, as with so many other Obama foreign policy supporters, appears to be getting nothing.

That’s a topic of increasingly pointed conversation in Washington, but best awaits a more final distribution of Assistant and Deputy Assistant Secretaries, NSC postings, et al, before rendering final judgment.

Parenthetically, but along the same lines, what ever happened to Sen. Chuck Hagel, “everybody’s” pick for a “bi-partisan” Cabinet selection, and an Obama supporter?

Maybe there’s still a chance for Hagel…pending a new name for Commerce…since he was an actual real live business person before entering politics.

But back to DOD: as indicated in the Summary, the shape of decision-makers below the Gates/Flournoy level is taking form, with word on the likely Assistant Secretaries for two key bureaus:

We already noted this week that the A/S for Asia, replacing the now-retired Jim Shinn, will be retired Marine General “Chip” Gregson, although we forgot to remind ourselves that he served as Kurt Campbell’s military aid, back when Kurt was a DOD DAS in the Clinton Administration.

Newly revealed to be in the mix is the expected nomination of former Ambassador to S. Korea (also Russia and NATO) Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow, to run DOD’s largest bureau, ISA.

ISA…International Security Affairs…reports to Ms. Flournoy as Undersecretary for Policy, and is responsible for strategy and policy in all regions of the world EXCEPT E. Asia, S. Asia, and Latin/South America.

(You may recall that two years ago, former DOD Asia DAS Richard Lawless helped persuade Congress and then-Secretary Rumsfeld that N. Asia security issues were so important and time-consuming that a separate A/S slot should be authorized.)

But with Vershbow as the assumed pick for ISA, the bureau will be run by someone with very recent, deep, hands-on experience with Korea/N. Korea, Korea-Japan, China et al.

Gregson, incidentally, we have been told has said he will also assume responsibility for overseeing Afghanistan, as part of the “Asia” portfolio.

In that, he will have to work closely with Vershbow, who’s responsibilities will include NATO involvement in Afghanistan.

Just for the record, we asked a friend how to understand the DOD regional bureau lineup, under five separate Assistant Secretaries:

ISA (Vershbow) is the biggest, as it includes all of Europe, Russia and Central Asia (the entire Former Soviet Union), the Middle East (including Iraq, Iran, Israel/Levant, the Gulf), NATO support for Afghanistan, and all of Africa.

Asia-Pacific affairs (Gregson) is all of East Asia (NE and SE), and South Asia (India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, minus the NATO/ISAF aspects).

Latin America is grouped with the A/S for Homeland Defense. The 4th and 5th A/S jobs cover Special Ops and Global affairs.

On NATO, our friend notes, the Alliance has tried to establish global partnerships, but so far the Australians and Japanese have been more interested than the Koreans.

Anyone know more about these people or possible other picks?

UPDATE ON NAMES AT BOTTOM OF POSTING.

Summary:

The Asia-focused summary is: Amb. Jeff Bader to replace Dennis Wilder as the NSC’s Senior Director, Asia; Kurt Campbell to replace Chris Hill as Asst. Sec. State EAP…barring some currently unforeseen event.

It seems likely Obama will take a major Asia trip early in his presidency, with best bet being Indonesia. Question in the air…China but not Japan, or Japan but not China? Best bet…Japan first.

Nothing solid yet on Amb. to Japan, but sources today say think Joe Nye. Deputy Sec. State will be Jim Steinberg, long experienced in China and E. Asia issues. Dep. Sec DOD will be Bill Lynn, a proven adult supervisor of finance and management.

Sec St-designee Hillary Clinton current plans are to have the major existing crises the direct responsibility of a plethora of Special Envoys. The following seem nearly certain, with the usual caveats:

Middle East (Israel/Palestine) Richard Haass; Iran, Dennis Ross; South Asia (Pakistan/India) Dick Holbrooke; N. Korea, Wendy Sherman likely but other names remain in play, including Mitchell Reiss.

With the security “triumvirate” of National Security Advisor Gen. Allen, reinforced by Panetta and Blair, and backed-up by Vice President Biden and his staff…you have to think that the Obama White House will be the center of decision-making on foreign and defense policy issues.

Deeper Assessment:

NAMES…to the extent that discussion is possible, given that few of these “will be nominated” folks HAVE actually been officially announced…

The selection of former Clinton DOD DAS Kurt Campbell to take over as A/S EAP from Chris Hill came as a surprise to many of the political players who had assumed that he would go back to DOD…but others point out that his co-founder at the Center for National Security, Michelle Flournoy, already had been picked by Secretary Gates as Undersecretary for Policy.

Back in Clinton times, Campbell helped raise DOD’s foreign policy profile, and was deeply involved in the initial stages of re-defining the US-Japan strategic relationship, and in particular the Okinawa/Futenma relocation problem.

(DOD postings remain a tad more nebulous that we’d like, especially as sources tend to forget that the “Lawless DAS” position was upgraded not just by Richard’s performance, but also in law to an A/S slot for Jim Shinn. With that caveat, it sounds clear that CSIS’s Derek Mitchell will be a high-level Asia policy appointment at DOD…stay tuned.)

More than a decade later, Futenma remains on the front-burner as a “difficult issue” in the relationship. Then and in the interim, Campbell has been deeply involved in all major US-N. Asia issues, and lately in developing better coordination of energy/environmental policy by the US and its friends and allies in Asia.

Campbell’s selection (offered and accepted, but not announced) helps explain why the chief of the Obama Asia Advisors, Amb. Jeff Bader, of Brookings, is the pick to replace Dennis Wilder at the NSC as Senior Director for Asia.

Bader’s selection has been widely reported in Asia, but not officially announced by Obama. Bader started life at State under Jimmy Carter, helping then-A/S Holbrooke navigate Congressional waters. His long Asia experience includes postings at USTR and the NSC.

The NSC funding situation…always perilous at best…is currently something of a crisis, and may delay announcements of staff under Bader, and the other Senior Directors…so we’ll forbear possible names pending developments.

As is frequently the case with the NSC, staff with “portable salaries” from State, DOD, CIA et al may end up with jobs which might otherwise have been open to more “political” appointments from academe or Capitol Hill.

Funding is not likely to be a problem for Hillary Clinton, as she reportedly intends to turn over management of many (if not all) current crises to Special Envoys.

As noted in the Summary, picked for the Iran portfolio is long-time Middle East expert, and former State official Dennis Ross, despite reported opposition from “liberal” critics who feel he has from time to time been more critical of Israel than they would like.

As Special Envoy for the Israel/Palestine tragedy, the pick is Richard Haass, head of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a frequent contributor of Op Eds, interviews and position papers with a special focus on Middle East issues…see the most recent on the outbreak of fighting in Gaza.

Richard Holbrooke, chairman of the Asia Society, author of the Dayton Peace Accords, former A/S EAP under Carter, et al, will be Special Envoy for India/Pakistan, now that issues have been settled regarding how he reports directly to Clinton, and not also to the President.

A final Special Envoy of great interest to Asia is for N. Korea, and we understand that the decision is leaning toward former Albright counselor Wendy Sherman, who will return in the Counselor role, but possibly “dual hat” on the DPRK.

For that perhaps thankless portfolio, other names may yet be in play, including former Colin Powell Policy Planning chief, and non-proliferation expert Mitchell Reiss, now at The College of William & Mary.

Asian press speculation that Chris Hill would remain on the DPRK job is wrong, sources here agree, despite Hill’s close ties to Clinton via Holbrooke.

The non-proliferation crisis…and that’s what it is, given Pakistan, N. Korea, Iran et al…has attracted a number of folks with deep experience, but for now, it looks like former Clinton NSC official Ivo Daalder will be returning to the NSC, while former Clinton DPRK negotiator Bob Einhorn will be Undersecretary of State for “T”, the non-proliferation shop.

Obviously important for Asia will be UnderSec State Econ, and the pick reportedly is Lael Brainard, who had been in play for USTR, and who coincidentally is married to Kurt Campbell.

(The couple have two small children, so if both appointments come as expected, perhaps they can persuade State to establish a day care center as excellent as that out at the CIA?)

Clinton’s pick to head Policy Planning is said to be Princeton professor Anne Marie Slaughter, the esteemed dean of the Woodrow Wilson School.

Undersecretary for P, political affairs, will remain the very respected Bill Burns…a great relief to everyone in the building, it must be noted.

UPDATE:
NAMES…feedback from Monday’s Report was, as usual, swift and useful, and so far the only major “correction” required seems to be our assertion that the Council on Foreign Relations’ Richard Haass will be the Special Envoy for Israel/Palestine.

In meetings today with colleagues, and in other venues, Haas has firmly claimed “no conversation” by phone or other methods, with the Obama folks on this job.

So if that proves to be the eventual outcome, the question of “who” for this vital slot remains…any Loyal Readers who think they know, know what to do!

Reliable blog information on the A/S Middle East at State lists former Amb. to Egypt and Israel, Daniel Kurtzer, as the likely nominee…if so a very well-received posting.

It’s also necessary to clarify the situation on Special Envoy for North Korea,  to report that former State Dept councilor Wendy Sherman has been offered that job, but NOT a return to her old job, in combination, as we incorrectly reported.

The net is that the Special Envoy for NK may therefore remain open, and as we noted last night, possible “names” include former State Dept Policy Planning chief Mitchell Reiss, and today we are reminded that former negotiator Dan Poneman, at the Scowcroft Group, should be included…IF it turns out that Sherman does not accept the posting.

Other gossip…and we stress no solid foundation (yet) for this…has former Marine Gen. Chip Gregson as highly thought-of for the DOD A/S Asia slot held by Jim Shinn, succeeding Richard Lawless.

I have done a blog posting on World Nexus, but would be great to get more information.

If anyone knows Ndesandjo, be great to speak with him.

The company’s website is here, but not too many details there.

Martin Luther King’s final speech before his assassination seems highly resonant with Barack Obama’s projected victory (12 noon, Hong Kong time):

We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight.

As someone who grew up in Virginia – capital of the Confederacy and a state supporting apartheid-like policies within my lifetime – I am pleased that the election was called following Virginia’s support for Obama.

Politico has a must-see list of the top ten viral videos of the US presidential campaign. Above is one I missed that pretty credibly portrays McCain, Obama and Palin in a break dance competition. Where was Joe Biden? (And Joe the Plumber, for that matter.)

This quick video is a demo of Barack Obama’s interactive phonebanking system at the campaign website. The highly interactive system is a cross between Facebook and a campaign activist site. If Obama wins on Tuesday, no doubt the impressive website will be getting some credit. It hyper-personalizes itself to your location and what is happening in your area while always asking your permission to send you emails, etc. It nicely balances the call to action with not bothering you too much.

Among the Obama links to China is his half-brother, Mark Ndesandjo who runs a Internet company in Shenzhen.

An online poll conducted on China Daily’s website by the US embassy, shows Obama enjoys the support of 75 percent among the Chinese.

A Horizon Research survey released Wednesday showed about 35.5 percent Chinese “pay close attention” to the US presidential race. Even among these people, Obama’s supporters exceed McCain’s by 17.8 percent,

“The most impressive thing is the Chinese people’s strong backing for Obama,” Song Zhiyuan, who analyzed the survey results, said.

“Perhaps his age, energy, and even complexion, which signify the US dream, are more appealing to the Chinese,” Song said.

Statistics show Obama was favored more than McCain by each of the target groups, which were divided according to gender, age, income and educational qualification.

Horizon Research received 2,791 effective answers to its questionnaire from people aged between 18 and 60 in seven big cities and seven towns.