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What Country Will President Obama Visit First?

by Jarrett Martineau | November 17, 2008 at 04:25 pm

642 views | 23 Recommendations | 4 comments

As a Canadian, I am more than a little disappointed to see that our new neighbour-elect to the south doesn't appear to be considering a visit with our very own newly re-elected Prime Minister mini-Bush here at 'our home on native land'.

Instead, it seems that Britain will be getting the honour of President Obama's first visit.

In fact, Canada doesn't even make it onto the Economist's list of potential first places. Maybe we're a little too close to home?

Where do you think Obama should go first?

THANKS to its “special relationship” with America, Britain is firm favourite to be the first country that Barack Obama will visit as president, according to Paddy Power, an Irish bookmaker. Although Nicolas Sarkozy will no longer be president of the European Union in 2009, France is offered at 3/1 to receive President Obama. Germany, despite Mr Obama's rapturous welcome in Berlin earlier this year, is given longer odds not only over its Gallic neighbour, but also Iraq and Afghanistan. At 10/1, Kenya is reckoned a more likely first stop than Israel or Japan.

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mazevedo

at 16:33 on November 17th, 2008

I guess historically it would make sense for Britain to be first, however I found myself pretty impressed as Canada, Brazil, and India didn't even make the list. I mean I found some countries mentioned pretty random, but then again thats just my opinion.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 16:43 on November 17th, 2008

Thank you for this story, Jarrett. I'm sorry to learn that Canada did not even make it onto the Economist's list. I don't have any suggestions at the moment either to where Obama should go first. I honestly haven't given it any thought (until now).

gerrypopplestone

at 19:19 on November 17th, 2008

I think he should go either to China, Brazil or India, in order to show the world that he really is determined to effect a change in how the US does business. All the major institutions in the world are still living in the 20th century when the Global Noorth was dominant. It is so stupid to think we can carry on in the same arrogant way while major world powers are left out in the cold. Change? Yes we can!

And we forget the so-called special relatonship: it's a figment of our imagination! How we Brits love to live in cloud-cuckoo land!

Mary Richard

at 22:20 on November 17th, 2008

Irish bookmaker... yeah, right. The things some guys will bet on!

Did anyone check out his website? They've got bets on who's gonna play Obama if there's a movie too. I'll bet on Cuba Gooding Junior, he's running 10 - 1 right now!

; )