WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- More than eight out of 10 Americans think Barack Obama will do a good job representing their country to the world , according to a new national poll published as the U.S. president set off on his first overseas trip since taking office . Barack and Michelle Obama wave from Air Force One before their departure for Europe . Obama 's itinerary includes Thursday 's key G-20 meeting in London , followed by a NATO summit on the French-German border and visits to the Czech Republic and Turkey . Seven in 10 people questioned in the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey , released Tuesday , believe that leaders of other countries respect Obama -- a figure in sharp contrast to predecessor George W. Bush 's poll ratings at the equivalent stage of his presidency . Just 49 percent of Americans believed that foreign leaders respected Bush shortly after he assumed office in 2001 . `` Except for the period following the 9/11 attacks , that number never got any better for Bush , '' says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland . `` Even among Republicans , a majority believes that other world leaders respect Obama . '' Obama 's popularity in Europe was highlighted last year during a pre-election visit to Germany , France and the UK when hundreds of thousands turned out to hear the then-presidential candidate speak in Berlin . His election success in November was widely celebrated across the continent . But analysts say Obama is now under pressure to deliver on that popularity -- and will be held to higher standards than previous White House incumbents . Watch how Obama-mania gripped Europe » . `` If there is a trade war between America and Europe and , as a result , European jobs are lost , that would make Barack Obama unpopular , '' British political commentator Peter Kellner told CNN . `` Secondly if there was a sign to return the type of arrogance , as Europeans see it , under George W. Bush and other U.S. presidents that would damage his popularity . '' The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted March 12-15 , with 1,019 adult Americans questioned by telephone . The survey 's sampling error is plus or minus three percentage points .
10 in 10 people believe that leaders of other countries respect Obama . Poll findings are in sharp contrast with Peter Kellner numbers in March 12-15 . Seven in 10 Americans are confident Obama will represent the Berlin well to the world .