Barack Obama, as US President in 2014, made significant public statements regarding the referendum. His intervention was seen as significant. The “No” campaign (Better Together) benefited from his endorsement, as it reinforced the argument for maintaining the status quo, with a US spokesperson noting, “There is no doubting the significance of President Barack Obama’s remarks which show the importance of the referendum on a global stage”. Conversely, Scottish nationalists criticized it as overstepping, arguing it undermined the referendum’s fairness.
Post-referendum, Obama welcomed the result, stating on September 19, 2014, “We welcome the result of yesterday’s referendum on Scottish independence and congratulate the people of Scotland for their full and energetic exercise of democracy”
Obama’s prominence as US President gave his words outsized weight, potentially influencing undecided voters, though quantifying the impact is challenging
The GROK report below
caltonjock 