Although the U.S. presidential election is still several months away, the “51st state” has already picked a winner: Obamamania is sweeping Britain. The Populus survey, which revealed that 48 percent of British voters prefer Sen. Barack Obama, also found that more than half of British voters want to see a Democrat win in November.

Senator [John] McCain is probably being tarnished by a strongly anti-Republican mood among British voters, fuelled by the unpopularity of President Bush and the Iraq war. Back in September 2004, Populus asked whether British voters preferred President Bush or Senator John Kerry to win the presidential election that November. The Democrat came out ahead by 52 to 29 per cent. And for all the talk of a neoconservative alliance, Tory voters backed Senator Kerry over President Bush by 50 to 35 per cent.

The poll shows the extent of transatlantic disillusionment after the Bush era, and, by implication, the potential for rebuilding of relations after the new president takes office next January. The trouble with Obamamania, however, is the risk of excessive expectations, and consequent disillusionment when/if American policies change less than hoped.

If Obama wins in the fall, do you think the nation–and world–will have “excessive expectations” for his White House performance as compared to what would be expected from either Hillary Clinton or McCain? And if so, what kinds of “excessive expectations” do you think he’ll face?