About 1.5 million people visited the BBC Web page reporting the win by Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton over Obama in New Hampshire, making it one of the most-read stories in months.

But much of the enthusiasm comes from anticipation of Bush’s departure, according to analysts. US prestige and popularity in much of the world have sunk to historic lows since Bush took office, over such issues as the Iraq war and climate change.

In South Africa, political analyst Justice Malala said discussion of the US primaries eclipsed even domestic politics. There hasn’t been much interest in Republicans Mike Huckabee or Mitt Romney, Malala said, “but Obama and Clinton are something special. It reminds me of the Mandela presidency.”

In Brazil, too, pictures of Obama and Clinton were on the front pages. “People talk about it in cafes and say that maybe a woman will become president,” said Roberta Berra, 28, a hotel concierge in Rio de Janeiro.

There are, of course, places where people are not following every twist and turn. “I don’t think who is president will affect the US policy toward China,” said Chen Xiaoguang, 33, a doctor in Beijing.