Romanian businesspeople betting on Obama

Besides the fact that Obama could be the first Afro-American President, which is a significant change, and Americans want changes, according to Continental Hotels President Radu Enache, the Democratic candidate has the edge due to the current environment.

“I think that Obama will win, because these are Leftist times,” said the President of Impact Developer&Contractor, Dan Ioan Pop.

For head-hunter George Butunoiu, Obama is more sure of himself, saying that “McCain is struggling to play the role of a U.S. Presidential candidate.”

Other businesspeople say Obama is likely to win because of the undesirable “Bush heritage.” “By choosing Obama, I believe America stands only to gain long-term, and will change the messy image created by Bush,” financial analyst Bogdan Baltazar said. The owner of Sanador private clinics, Florin Andronescu, agrees that the vote of Americans will sanction current difficulties the U.S. is facing under the Bush administration.

However, several businesspeople believe that McCain could be the best choice to ensure that the U.S. comes out of the crisis.

“Republican John McCain will win the U.S. elections because his governing program is more focused on developing the real economy,” according to the President of Romania’s National Prognosis Commission (CNP), Ion Ghizdeanu. The Managing Partner of Scot & Company Consulting, Dan Schwartz, agrees. In his opinion, McCain’s economic vision is more realistic, and more appropriate for the current financial situation.

“I just returned from the U.S. and heard the two [candidates] saying very different things: Obama’s policy focuses on the redistribution of wealth, while McCain speaks of creating wealth,” Schwartz said.

Some 20 percent of managers interviewed said they are not interested in the U.S. elections or its politics. “We have our own [problems]! said Raiffeisen Bank’s Chief Economist, Ionut Dumitru.

Analysts say that Romanian businesspeople are betting on Obama because he is more interesting, more spectacular, and is leading in the polls.

“The decision is sentiment-driven, not reason-driven. I do not believe they have been listening to his speeches or have studied his approach. Furthermore, all of Europe prefers Obama, who is gaining ground in the polls, which makes more people join him because he is already perceived as the winner,” Analyst Zoe Petre, former presidential advisor, said.

On the other hand, managers have no major expectations when it comes to Romania’s gains from Obama’s victory. Radu Enache believes there is no point for Romania to expect anything for either candidate, while the President of Altex household appliance retailer Dan Ostahie does not feel Romania is a priority for the U.S.