Bono: 'Barack Obama deserves the hype'

Bono has stated he believes Barack Obama "might deserve the hype", following criticism of the president's Nobel Peace Prize.

The U2 singer applauded Obama's commitment to ending global poverty in an opinion piece, titled 'Rebranding America', in the New York Times on Saturday (October 17).

"I think the virtual Obama is the real Obama," writes Bono, "and [I] think the man might deserve the hype."

Referring to his comments "on the eradication of extreme poverty in our time" at the UN in September, Bono stated: "I believe Mr Obama could well be a force for peace and prosperity – if the words signal action."

The U2 frontman even jokingly talked of his band's reactions to his political work, saying: "I don’t speak for the rest of the world. Sometimes I think I do — but as my bandmates will quickly (and loudly) point out, I don't even speak for one small group of four musicians."