Outsider looking in -
Obama has shown that is is owned by the party. The "Yes We Can" and "Change" and "Hope" stuff is all a distant memory. He is another politician who pushed the party line, took credit for anything that came close to him that was positive and blame everything negative on the other guy. No accountability. Not unusual, but just another politician. He has proven that he can not work with the opposition, so if anything I think he has shown that he is no leader.
Obama is a great politician and campaigner. My money is on 4 more years of him. The stability will help the economy, not his agenda or his leadership.
I guess the Republicans are down to Newt and Romney. If was even just the 4 of them (including Paul and Santorum), it probably would have been a better showing. However, there was a bit of a carnival with people who are not of the caliber to be running that seemed to be taking serious for too long before dropping out.
I think Santorum is politically dead.
Newt seems bright to me and has some fire. However, anyone who takes him serious is forgetting that he ****** the governments time with the silly impeachment and the whole Sallie Mae affair. I really think anyone who is looking at the personal stuff on him is either too far into managing other people's personal lives or simply a political hack. I can't see how Newt can win.
Romney should be a real choice. Bain Capital is a well run company. If you can't defend your success with them, you can't take on Obama.
So, that is my non-US citizen view of the field.