Who does former U.S. colony the Philippines back in Trump-Clinton battle?
Hillary Clinton would win hands down in the Philippines if the former American colony had a say, the SCMP’s survey found. Some 78 per cent of Filipino respondents would choose the Democrat over her Republican rival Donald Trump (22 per cent).
Although taking place far away, the US polls have Filipinos lapping up the twists and turns of the race and the interest is understandable: based on a 2010 census in the US, 3.4 million Filipinos live there, making them the second largest Asian minority after the Chinese. In addition, more than 60,000 visit the US each year, while thousands more wait to migrate.
Filipinos monitor the elections through Facebook, television, Twitter and newspapers. Some 68 per cent had a favourable impression of Clinton, compared to 26 per cent for Trump. They found the former US secretary of state “diplomatic” (51 per cent) and a welcome dinner companion (78 per cent).
Only 26 per cent would dine with Trump, while 60 per cent found him “arrogant” and 50 per cent “unpredictable”.