Shouldn't he be in Washington?

Julian Muller from New York and Stuart Foster from London. Julian: 'We need some education in the White House.' Stuart: 'I think what he represents is a new opportunity' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Teri Pengilley

Sharmila and Deborshi Desgupta from Los Angeles. Sharmila: 'He has experience dealing with people from various nations and colours and he will create a better society.' Deborshi: 'The fact that’s he’s younger makes him easier to relate to for my age group. Up to now politicians have had an old-fashioned, narrow-minded view' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Kwasi Mintah-Boapeah from London: 'He’s excellent and he will do a good job' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Judith Clinton from London: 'I would wish him luck, because he’s going to need it; he’s inheriting a lot of crap from two difficult regimes. Quite frankly, I just hope he survives two terms' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Ji Guojun from China: 'I don’t know what his foreign policies towards China will be. He’s unpredictable – all I know is he is a good public speaker' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Christine Grainger from London: 'I like Obama because he seems like a levelheaded, conscious person. Rather than be reactionary, I think he can be revolutionary' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Eirwen and Ieuan Brooks from Cardiff. Eirwen: 'I would say to him look after the shares, and look after the money. And end the wars, get the troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Susan Dalton, an American who lives in Sweden: 'I think he’ll make Americans feel better about everything. They feel pretty beaten up after the past eight years' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

James Holloway from London with Dylan Van Rensburg, 13. James: 'Hopefully he can save the world, but he has a tough job.' Dylan: 'I know about him. He’s the first black man to be president of the USA' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Omar Sidaoui from Australia: 'I believe he will be a change for the world – as long as he gives Palestine a chance and deals with Israel quickly' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Ian Skillen from Preston: 'I don’t think I’m qualified to give him advice but if I could I would say stick to your principles' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Niki Winterson from London: 'My children are thrilled: my 11-year-old son was so pleased that there was an enemy, Bush, and he was defeated. It was like Star Wars, and Obama was the clear light sabre of optimism' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Sophie King from London: 'I think if I met him we would be friends. I would tell him to keep smiling and to wear good shoes - image is everything in America' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian

Kandi Vuong, 15, from Vietnam: 'I like him because he's the first black man to be president in America and I think that's a good thing' Photograph: Teri Pengilley/Guardian