Who are Aobama and Maikaien?

They are none other than the candidates for the U.S. presidency. In China, coverage of the American election has taken the backseat to the Olympics, so perhaps that's why when I asked many Beijingers if they recognize pictures of Barack Obama (奥巴马, pronounced Ào bā mǎ) or John McCain, (麦凯恩, pronounced Mài kǎi ēn) many gave me a quizzical look.

Barack Obama. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

John McCain. (Photo by Laura Segall/Getty Images)

Ultimately though, they came up with the right guess with a little prodding.

"Isn't that the black man that's running for president?" one man said of Obama.

"He's quite old," another man said of a picture of McCain.

That Barack Obama is a minority in the United States makes him a favorable candidate in Asia, concluded the Asia Society in May. If the Chinese could vote they would support Obama in part because of his ethnicity, said Shen Dingli the deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Shanghai's Fudan University.

"Such a minority's emergence represents a great achievement of American progress in terms of human rights and social equity," said Shen, but he added that his lack of experience might be cause for hesitation.

Stickers in English, Spanish and Chinese are seen at a polling place in San Francisco on Super Tuesday. (Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images)

But while former Democratic contender Hillary Clinton was known to many Chinese due to her visits to China and the popularity of her husband, little is known about Barack Obama, particularly his policy towards China. Perhaps that's why Ding Gang, a senior desk editor at the People's Daily penned an editorial in June that seemed to conclude that the real test of a candidate will be his policies in office and not what he says on the election trail.

"Social change perhaps occur, but it needs a lot of pre-conditions and time required," Gang wrote. "As for onlookers of the American presidential race, they should bear in mind that they should not be confused by a change of roles on the 'performing stage' but see clearly what changes these roles are to make."

Meanwhile, the Beijing-based China Times also published an editorial on what an Obama presidency may look like, by Li Zhengxin at the Carter Center. It's translated here by the Mei Zhong blog.

The article writes that an Obama administration would place more pressure on China on issues such as worker's rights, environmental protection, the trade deficit, intellectual property rights and currency issues. It might even be more likely than the Bush administration to use the World Trade Organization to confront China in court, Li wrote.

But at the same time, the editorial also seemed to view Obama's cultural and ethnic background as sign of improved change.

"As for this man of mixed culture, mixed race, and many years of experience living in Asia, his foreign policy will definitely not be conducted unilaterally with America as the absolute center. His experience with Asians will give him a better understanding of Eastern culture, and he will have a more detailed understanding of poverty and political reform in the Third World."

The The China Elections & Governance Website, a joint venture between Carter Center China Program and the Renmin University of China also has an interesting take on Chinese and Obama here.

As for John McCain, the Republican candidate touched a nerve with China earlier this year for criticizing China's treatment of Tibetans. In an AFP article, he was quoted as saying: "One of the first things I would talk about if I were president of the United States today is what's going on in Tibet... It's not correct. The people there are being subjected to mistreatment. That is not acceptable in the conduct of a world power -- which China is."

But while the blogosphere seems very interested in Chinese views of Obama, little has been blogged about how the Chinese view McCain.

In a statement by John McCain just prior to the Olympics, the Republican candidate again criticized the Chinese government's actions in Tibet.

"I believe President Bush should evaluate his participation in the ceremonies surrounding the Olympics and, based on Chinese actions, decide whether it is appropriate to attend. If Chinese policies and practices do not change, I would not attend the opening ceremonies," McCain said.

Meanwhile, a fact sheet by the Obama Campaign says that Obama "will not demonize China because he understands both the magnitude of the challenges face a developing China and the importance of a constructive relationship..." The fact sheet also said Obama recognizes the One-China Policy and will work to "ensure that a military conflict across the Taiwan Strait never arises."

But the position paper also said Obama would work to enforce trade laws and would use any diplomatic means necessary to change China's manipulation of its currency. It also criticized China's support of the Sudan and its domestic human-rights record.

As the candidates near the end of the campaign trail, expect that China will continue to be a talking point.

"China can say they candidate they like, but really it is up to what's in hearts of the American people." one man told me. Come November 4th, those hearts, will hopefully, be revealed.