Leave it to a handful of Norwegians to get Americans gabbing about politics.

The announcement yesterday morning that President Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize may have come as a surprise. But it left observers -- from the pontificators to the hoi polloi -- far from speechless.

"It's ridiculous," said Rebecca Carmassi, of Carnegie, sitting outside MixStirs Cafe in Market Square. Ms. Carmassi said she was so steamed about the award that she couldn't even bring herself to click on Internet stories about it. "It's a popularity contest."

Across Market Square outside Subway, Mary McCord, of Squirrel Hill, pumped her fists in excitement. "I think it's just wonderful, he deserves it," she said. "I love him."

And outside Starbucks, friends Chris Brokaw and Bob Williams were already discussing the prize when a reporter asked to interview them.

"I voted for Obama, I like Obama, but it seems to me like a political statement from the committee and not a reaction to any work," said Mr. Brokaw, of Mt. Lebanon.

As goes Market Square, so go the halls of Congress -- at least on this issue, where the same debate was brewing yesterday.

Pennsylvania Democratic representatives and senators said the honor was a referendum on Mr. Obama's new approach to foreign policy.

In a phone interview, Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., cited Mr. Obama's "speech in Cairo, which was celebrated around the world, especially in the Muslim world, with his reaching out to Russia, with his efforts on visiting so many foreign capitals and speaking to the people. I think he has turned a new page in American diplomatic relations.

"You don't get the Nobel Peace Prize if you haven't earned it."

But the question of whether the award reflected Mr. Obama's accomplishments or merely what he has promised brought criticism from domestic political foes.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele released a statement saying, "It is unfortunate that the president's star power has outshined tireless advocates who have made real achievements working towards peace and human rights."

Conservative backlash brought a counter-backlash from Mr. Obama's supporters, including Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills.

"People are going to say what they're going to say -- it's not like he was out there campaigning for this," Mr. Doyle said. "I don't know why any American would be unhappy that their president received a Nobel Peace Prize."

Mr. Doyle said the award showed the reversal in how the global community views America now versus under the leadership of George W. Bush.

Indeed, the award may be understood better from outside the U.S. than from within, said Kent Moors, a political science professor at Duquesne University and frequent international traveler who in the past several weeks has spent time in Russia, Turkey and London.

"I don't think people in the United States are quite prepared for the image and popularity that Obama has elsewhere," he said. "He's wildly popular internationally and has political battles at home."

The award may play into those political battles, said Gerry Shuster, a professor of political communication and presidential rhetoric at the University of Pittsburgh, to the extent that it elevates expectations for Mr. Obama.

"This could be as negative as it is positive in the long run if he doesn't meet the level of expectations," he said. "It really puts him on a much higher plateau than any sitting president to the extent that so much more is expected now that he's won one of the most sought after and prestigious awards in the world."

But like Mr. Obama or hate him, at least there was something of import dominating the airwaves yesterday, said Tyrone Glover, of Penn Hills, standing in Market Square.

"It was nice to see something else besides Jon and Kate."

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