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f Indonesians were asked who they would like to see win the US presidential election on Tuesday, an overwhelming number of them would probably say Barack Obama. But after four years in the White House, the novelty of the man who has personal and emotional ties with Indonesia because he spent a part of his childhood years here, is wearing off.

Four years ago very few Indonesians considered John McCain, Obama’s Republican rival, good for US-Indonesia ties. But, now a growing number of people may entertain the idea that relations would be just as good or could be even stronger if the United States were led by the Republican challenger Mitt Romney instead of the incumbent, Obama.

Not that how Indonesia feels matters in the US election, but who moves into the White House next year does matter in regards to the future relationship between the two countries.

When all is said and done, the close sentiments Indonesians have toward Barry, Obama’s nickname when he attended Jakarta schools in the 1960s, actually matters a little. Relations between Indonesia and the United States would and should be equally strong irrespective of the US presidential election outcome.

The only real difference will be in style. Romney cannot charm his Indonesian hosts the way Barry did on his two visits here as president. Different presidents will have a different emphasis. But Indonesia-US relations today already has strong footing.

Obama’s four years in the White House has allowed many Indonesians to reassess their view of the man they love to call the “Menteng Kid” after Central Jakarta’s elite neighborhood where his primary school (not his residence) was located.

They have many reasons to feel disappointed. Obama did not visit Indonesia until November 2010, or 23 months into his presidency. And in terms of his Middle East policy (many Indonesians judge him by his performance here), he has been a complete let down, especially when compared to his election promises to help bring peace and lasting solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

And after four years of President Obama, many Indonesians have come to see him for what he is: a liberal with all the values and principles that most Indonesians (who are religious conservatives) would not feel very comfortable with. Many Indonesians would particularly find his views on abortion and gay rights too radical.

This is why privately, many Indonesians feel more connected with Romney. Muslims, who make up 88 percent of the 240 million Indonesian population, should find it easier to accept the conservative values and principles the Mormon presidential candidate espouses. You can even throw in polygamy into the pot, some Muslim Indonesian men would nod approvingly.

Looking at overall US and Indonesia relations, many people have wrongly concluded that they are at their best today because Obama, given his Indonesian connection, made it happen. Anyone who has been following closely would argue that relations had been building up and strengthening under Obama’s predecessor, president George W. Bush.

United by the common war against threats from terrorist groups, Indonesia and the US worked together for their common security interests. They looked into the wider human security issue that saw addressing poverty, healthcare and access to education as more effective ways of countering terrorism and Islamic radicalism.

When Obama moved into the White House in 2008, he picked up where Bush had left off and in November 2011, he and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed the Indonesia-United States Comprehensive Partnership agreement. His Indonesian connection has simply put the icing on the cake in these already budding relations.

Given the mutual security and prosperity concerns, relations would have been equally strong under any president, perhaps with different style and emphasis. In recent years, with concerns about the rise of China, and as the US tries to be part of the Asian Century in spite of its geographical location, Washington sees its relations with Indonesia along with other Southeast Asian nations as strategically important.

Obama’s strategic rebalance to Asia, announced early this year, is likely to remain even under Romney. Going by his campaign statements, Romney would take an even tougher line against China, and therefore he would probably turn to Indonesia and Southeast Asia even more to build alliances and partnerships.

Whether under Obama or under Romney, relations are bound to get stronger. Nothing, however, beats the personal and emotional connection that Obama has toward Indonesia, and conversely, many Indonesians still feel strongly toward him.

Whoever wins Tuesday’s election, it is comforting to know it is not going to affect the strategic partnership that the two countries have forged all these years. Indonesia, like other countries in the world, has a stake and interests in the outcome, but looking at the two candidates, Indonesia will be ready to work with either man.

American voters, this is your show.