Montrealers are divided about the news that U.S. president Barack Obama has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the Middle East peace process.
From people on the street to political analysts, many thought it was premature.
"I thought it was almost like an April Fool's joke," said U.S. tax lawyer Chuck Murphy.
However as an Active obama supporter, he was also very pleased.
"Look what he's done with his speech in Cairo, reaching out to the Muslim world, reaching out to increased hope for peace in the Middle East. The position of the United States, the opinion of other countries, the world view has increased dramatically in the most recent poll," said Murphy.
On that point political science professor Graham Dodds agrees, pointing to Obama's work on nuclear non-proliferation and climate change.
"I think it does have a certain logic from the point of view of the Nobel committee," said Dodds. "I think one way to look at this is this is one final kick in the pants to former president George Bush."
But Dodds doesn't think it will help Obama at home.
"Having a Nobel prize is a good thing. This is a big feather in anyone's cap even if you're the president of the United States, but I don't think it's going to give Obama a lot of new political capital."
