Twice as many business executives around the world say the global economy will prosper better if incumbent US President Barack Obama wins the next election than if his Republican challenger Mitt Romney does, a poll showed.

Democrat Mr Obama was chosen by 42.7 per cent in the 1,700 respondent poll, compared with 20.5 per cent for Mr Romney.

The rest said “neither”.

The result was different among respondents in the US, where a slim majority thought Mr Romney would be better for their businesses than Mr Obama.

Mr Obama maintains a seven-point lead over Mr Romney among registered voters in the race for the November 6 presidential election, despite the fact Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the future, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week.

The FT poll was conducted before Mr Romney picked Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice-presidential running mate at the weekend, a move that could dramatically shift the election debate between two sharply contrasting views of government spending and debt.

Mr Romney’s choice for running mate gave him no immediate boost to his White House prospects, a Reuters/Ipsos poll suggested earlier this week.

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