President Obama brought to his office enormous worldwide personal popularity that stood in stark contrast to the low standing of his predecessor. Because of his early years in Indonesia and his later home in Hawaii Obama described himself as America’s ‘first Pacific president’. He saw himself as a ‘game changer’, who would demand of all countries that they accept in equal measure their rights and responsibilities in the international system. He put less stress on the promotion of democracy than Bush and his chief of staff, Emanuel Rahm, has described Obama as less of an idealist and ‘probably more realpolitik, like Bush 41. The National Security Strategy published under his name in May 2010 called for collective action to serve the ‘common interest’ of combating violent extremism; non-proliferation; balanced and sustainable economic growth; meeting the challenges of climate change; armed conflict and pandemic disease. It called for engagement with friends and allies, but declared that ‘we are working to build deeper and more effective partnerships with other key centers of influence including China, India and Russia’ and others including Brazil, South Africa and Indonesia.