'If Obama wins, advertising wins'

One of the world's most powerful advertising executives, Martin Sorrell, talks about "Brand America" and Barack Obama's use of internet and TV.

Martin, head of WPP Group, the world's second-largest marketing and advertising company, told Channel 4 News: "I don't know a lot of the details but my impression is that Obama seized the new media and indeed the old media."

"What's of critical importance to the advertising industry probably is not who wins, but that Obama wins in the sense that he's invested an awful lot of money in advertising and marketing. It would be a good demonstration of the proof if he gets a good majority."

He warned of a tough time in the "real economy" in 2009 but predicted things would improve in 2010.

He added: "We have got to get used to the fact that we [US and western Europe] are no longer in the lead...and the balance of power is shifting."