Which Leader Do Latin Americans Give The Highest Approval Rating?

Associated Press

SANTIAGO, Chile — Latin Americans give U.S. President Barack Obama the highest approval rating for any leader in the region.

Obama is rated 6.3 on a scale of one to 10 in the survey conducted by the Chile-based Latinobarometro polling organization. He is closely followed by Brazilian President Dilma Rouseff at 6.

Latinobarometro polled 20,000 people in 18 Latin American countries. The leader with the worst mark is former Cuban President Fidel Castro at 4.1. Next lowest are Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega, who tied at 4.4.

Bolivian President Evo Morales has 4.9 and Chilean leader Sebastian Pinera got 5.1.

Comments

[Cacey]

09:18 PM on 10/31/2011

Even though I have a home in Central America and travel the region extensively, I find this amazing considering The US;s history of intervention and gun boat diplomacy particularly during the Reagan years in which he, Poindexter and Ollie North tried to destabilize the entire region. It speaks worlds for the goodness of the Latin American people.

[xhawk2]

10:44 AM on 10/31/2011

This must upset all the "socialist" liberals who think Chavez and Castro are good leaders.

[xoloitzcuintle]

07:30 PM on 11/01/2011

I thought Obama was a socialist too.

[1088]

10:36 AM on 10/31/2011

The American people are so blind to see we have a good man in office, and everyone I know that live overseas, see it, and would love to have a person like him in their own country.

[Leo satx210]

10:28 AM on 10/31/2011

Of course Obama would be the person they adore. This administration has all but taken down the security measure barring ILLEGAL aliens from their countries to prosper unchecked. This administration has restricted many measures to STOP the flow of ILLEGAL immigration into the U.S. “Today’s ILLEGAL aliens are tomorrows Democrats.” Obama and Hilda Solis have infamously said, “Latino’s will be the economic engine of the United States in the future.” Surprisingly, Obama and his administration dismiss the economic contributions of other minority groups in this country. If you’re not Latino or an ILLEGAL-alien you’re a non-factor to Democrats. You see, the birthrate of other minorities is not an economic bellwether for Democrats to consider us as viable constituents to their party going forward. Obama has perpetuated this in his 2 years of reign in this country. If you’re not an ILLEGAL alien or such, Democrats are just not that into you.

[Stuzzadelic]

10:10 AM on 10/31/2011

Yes, Venezuelans are our friends now, sorry Mr. Chavez.

[xoloitzcuintle]

07:31 PM on 11/01/2011

Yet the overwhelming majority of them keep voting for Chavez.

Maybe you missed the point of what democracy means.

[aFtersootdamP]

10:09 AM on 10/31/2011

Why is this a surprise? obama treats illegals better than American citizens.

[jasev01]

09:45 AM on 10/31/2011

Considering he signed more free trade agreement to give them more jobs that is no surprise. If they like him they can take him, then see how they feel.

[xoloitzcuintle]

07:32 PM on 11/01/2011

Latin Americans actually take to the streets and protest against your "free trade" agreements.

[wikwox]

09:23 AM on 10/31/2011

Interesting! Credit is due our neighbors to the south. If only America could think as clearly.

[Frenchie08]

08:52 AM on 10/31/2011

And the President haters' heads simultaneously explode!

[xhawk2]

10:44 AM on 10/31/2011

Actually, it's Chavez and Castro supporters.

[xoloitzcuintle]

07:32 PM on 11/01/2011

Because Venezuelans really care what Chileans think about their president.

[oliviascarlett]

08:47 AM on 10/31/2011

It seems many of the folks on this comment thread are not aware we live in a global economy. We are living in times when what happens in other countries has an economic impact on America's economy. It's has a rippling effect. How we're viewed worldwide, makes a difference. It would do us well to think beyond the boundaries of our nation when we make our assessments.

[ruthtruth]

08:44 AM on 10/31/2011

Congratulations Mr.President. 4 more years.

[futbol4fun]

08:21 AM on 10/31/2011

Sure, poll a latino NOT living in the U.S. and they will say they like Obama. But what does this have to do with the cost of bread?

[Frenchie08]

08:54 AM on 10/31/2011

Is this a bread commercial. 62% of Hispanics in the U.S. agree with them!

[futbol4fun]

09:18 AM on 10/31/2011

Well at least my bread is not ficticious. The last Gallup Poll put Obama at a 48% approval among Hispanics

[TommyObama]

10:24 AM on 10/31/2011

And 6.3 on a scale of one to 10 in this survey...SEE, Frenchie, US Hispanics DO rate him lower! They DO! Seriously, though: the GOP is gonna do everything it can this coming 12 months to drive a wedge between Obama and voting hispanics; I predict epic failure on their part.

[Roadrun]

09:32 AM on 10/31/2011

"the cost of bread" - les miserables, from the book by Victor Hugo. The story of Jean Valjean and the French June Rebellion circa 1815 - 1832

Which part are you reading for?

[futbol4fun]

10:10 AM on 10/31/2011

Bishop Myriel. Apparently not only is it okay to steal from me, but it seems to be okay to lure me in with 'news' that has no actual bearing on the reality of this country.

[rolor]

08:16 AM on 10/31/2011

Those who demarcate the lines of success between left and right are completely wrong because that line is actually drawn between a people empowering democracy and authoritative rule.

[caneca]

08:42 AM on 10/31/2011

Or in the case of American foreign policy during the last 100 years: claim to support democracy while installing and supporting authorative rule overseas.

[dsrhuff]

10:20 AM on 10/31/2011

This. Maybe they like Obama because he doesn't have troops or the CIA on the ground trying to overthrow governments, unlike nearly every other president since 50s.

[GravitonX]

07:49 AM on 10/31/2011

This is a ridiculous study.

[Frenchie08]

08:54 AM on 10/31/2011

Because......

[nutbagger]

07:41 AM on 10/31/2011

No surprise to me.