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Pool-Rick Wilking / AP
President Barack Obama listens as Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney speaks during the third presidential debate at Lynn University, Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, in Boca Raton, Fla.
By Karoun Demirjian (contact) 
Published Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 | 2 a.m.
Updated Monday, Oct. 22, 2012 | 4:59 p.m.
Sun coverage
After more than a year of full-throated campaigning, the presidential candidates meet tonight in the most storied of swing states for their last official face-to-face showdown before the election.
The Florida debate marks the last opportunity that President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney will have to take direct swings at each other in a nationally-televised forum -- and will also be their final opportunity to make a convincing closing argument to the American public about why voters should support them.
But the topic of the debate -- foreign policy -- will not let either candidate finish on the strongest or most central note of his campaign.
Since the presidential debates started, the United States has sent troops to Jordan to help contain the Syrian crisis from spilling over the border, China has started naval exercises to project force in the Pacific and Iraq has concluded a major arms deal with Russia.
Any of these are serious developments that could compromise global security and U.S. policy in the affected regions.
But odds are slim that any of them will come up for discussion when the rivals debate foreign policy tonight in their third and final meeting before the election. The debate begins at 6 p.m.
“Foreign policy rarely leads in presidential elections. But except for Libya and Iran, it's been almost completely absent in this campaign,” said Eric Herzik, a professor of political science at UNR.
Despite that, Monday night is Obama and Romney’s last chance for each to make their direct, face-to-face case for why he should be trusted to be the leader of the free world.
“This is an election, and elections are about choices,” said Stephanie Cutter, an Obama campaign spokeswoman. “The president has a record of keeping the country strong and secure, and that will be on display tomorrow night.
“Governor Romney doesn’t have a foreign policy record, unless you count foreign investment,” Cutter went on, adding that whatever Romney has had to say on global affairs “has either been a blunder or it's been full of bluster.”
Romney’s advisers, not surprisingly, see their candidate as the consummate statesman and promise that in the debate he will “take on the idea” that Obama’s foreign policy is worth defending.
“The key thing about a president is that they have good judgment, and I think Governor Romney has that in spades,” said Eliot Cohen, one of Romney’s top foreign policy advisers. “What the American people will see, unfiltered, is all the qualities you will see in a commander in chief.”
Foreign policy is arguably the area in which the electorate can judge the candidates’ records and plans in their purest form. While Obama and Romney have argued over who would more ably bring down the unemployment rate or jump-start the jobs market, Congress is as much involved in making those decisions as the White House. But only the president can be commander in chief.
The past four years have brought a series of dramatic global changes demanding the president’s attention: The Arab Spring, the financial fall of Europe and the rise of China, the threats posed by Mexican drug cartels, and the wind-down of two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are just a few of the events that have posed constant challenges to the United States’ top diplomatic and defense minds and will continue to test whomever is president over the next four years.
Romney and Obama have traded barbs about some of those issues, for example, on matters of trade that affect America's relationship with China and other countries.
“Governor Romney believes we need a fair and open international trading system,” Cohen said. “The Obama administration has ratified three free trade agreements, all of which were negotiated and completed in the previous administration. So basically, they’ve done nothing.”
“Romney's statements that the president has not enhanced America's trade is just flat-out wrong, and it's a lie,” Cutter said. “We’re in the process of negotiating a trans-Atlantic trade agreement which accounts for 40 percent of the world’s trade. On China, the president has brought twice the number of WTO enforcement cases against China in four years compared to the four years before that. He will do whatever it takes for American workers and business.”
They have argued about the proper way forward in Afghanistan, with Romney criticizing Obama for setting a 2014 pull-out date, and Obama defending his plans as being important if the objective “after more than a decade of war ... is to focus on rebuilding the nation at home,” as Cutter said.
But the two issues that have grown to dominate the foreign policy conversation are Iran’s march toward a nuclear weapon and the apparently planned assassination of the U.S. ambassador to Libya.
Romney criticized Obama in their previous debate for failing to immediately disclose that the assassination of four diplomatic security personnel in Benghazi, Libya, was due to a terrorist attack, charging that Obama tried to put the blame on angry-mob mentality spurred by a video because it was a more politically palatable excuse than admitting he had left the country vulnerable to terrorists.
Obama shot back that he was “offended” Romney would suggest he was playing politics with the deaths of four diplomatic personnel — right after accusing Romney of playing politics himself by attacking the president mere hours after the news of the deaths broke.
They also locked horns over Iran and whose approach to keeping the country from fully developing a nuclear weapon was more likely to keep the region nuke-free.
“Governor Romney believes very strongly that the threat to force has to be credible,” Cohen said.
“The president is not going to pursue cowboy, go-it-alone reckless foreign policy. He's going to keep this country safe,” Cutter said. “Wherever possible, bring the world with him. And he brought the world with him for tougher sanctions on Iran.”
Like the economy, much of the foreign policy situation both campaigns find themselves in has its roots in decisions that were made during the last decade. But both campaigns recoil from the mention of Bush’s name, or any association with his foreign policy.
The question of how they separate themselves from Bush is relevant to both campaigns, however. Romney has staked much of his foreign policy plans on the notion that the country has to continue to plan to keep the military strong so that it can pose a credible military threat in new theaters of conflict, such as Iran. Obama has, while presiding over the wind-down of two wars, advanced the Bush doctrine in other areas, especially when it comes to the proliferation of drones.
“On a drone question, ironically Obama can come out and be a hawkish Republican,” Herzik said. “And I can't wait to hear what Romney's going to say.”
Though these have been the main issues, there are many others that the candidates could weave into a discussion on foreign policy discussion.
“They have to fill an hour and a half. So they’ll pivot in terms of energy policy and national security,” said David Damore, political scientist at UNLV. “There are ways that they can bring in domestic issues, like immigration.”
The final comparison between the candidates may come down to a differences of philosophy and experience.
Experience is one thing the Obama campaign counts as having more of than Romney.
“He ended the war in Iraq. He imposed the toughest sanctions in history on Iran. He brought Osama bin Laden to justice,” Cutter said, ticking off her list of Obama’s achievements. “(Romney) hasn't been able to lay out anything different he would do than what Obama has done.”
“We will stand with the people who share our values,” Cohen said, bristling at the suggestion that Romney hasn’t been specific enough in setting himself apart from Obama’s policies.
“What exactly we would do in terms of deployment, exercises, specific measures? You can't say in advance precisely what that would be unless you're looking closely at intelligence. You can't have experience running foreign policy if you haven’t been the president,” Cohen continued pointing out that Obama had been completely inexperienced in foreign policy as well when he became president. “But (Romney) is an executive who’s used to making some very risky decisions.”
Still at this late stage of the campaign, and with voting already underway, what matters to the voters will more likely be lasting impressions, not lingering specifics.
“(Foreign policy) is not a lot on voters’ minds. It doesn’t come up in any of the top issues here,” said David Damore. “That is generally going to work to the advantage of the incumbent, because they’ll run the ‘this is what I’ve done on foreign policy, nothing horrible happened on my watch’ line.”
“It's the last debate, it's about issues that are out of the public's immediate list of priorities,” Herzik said. “The big thing (the candidates) have to do is not make a faux pas.”
Obama will attempt to run from he meltdown in middle-east policy and will attempt to repeatedly say Romney will start another war.
Both will fail
"...apparently planned assassination of the U.S. ambassador to Libya" is a speculative statement since you apparently have to use the word "apparently". What do you have to back that up? The Washington Post's article headlined "CIA Documents supported Susan Rice's description of Benghazi attacks" by David Ignatius on Oct. 19 supports the idea that the attack was more of an opportunistic attack by various militant factions that were opportunistic in using the protests worldwide as a distraction to carry out the attack in a disorganized way. Your article, however, does point out the current events that may or may not be addressed. We shall see. That being said, President Obama has the upper hand on foreign policy and despite the spin and lack of truth in Gov. Romney's dangerous rhetoric and opportunistic tactics that politicizes the seriousness of it all, President Obama will display the calm, sensible and resolute approach to foreign policy that is needed in an effective commander in chief.
I voted last saturday in NV early voting. I was not going to base my vote on a debate/media/pundit fest. VOTE responsibly! The VOTE is an American citizens only voice. Good luck to us all including the people of the world.
Get ready for 90 mins of Romney sucking up to Israel, and count how many times Obama brings up education.
We need more choices folks.
The President will continue to show his measured, intelligent, THOUGHT OUT foreign policy record & initiatives, which Secretary of State Clinton has very ably carried around the World...
Meanwhile, Mitt 'Tough Guy' Rmoney will continue to show how ill-equipped he is to fashion any semblance of real LEADERSHIP or STATESMANSHIP in this regard...
"I'll be TOUGH on Iran!"
"I'll be TOUGH on China!"
"I'll be TOUGH on Syria & Libya!"
"You must be a TOUGH GUY! I'm a TOUGH GUY!"
"Why, one time, back in college, I held a long-haired down and cut his HAIR OFF!!! Now, that's TOUGH!"
"I once had a Police uniform that I'd put on, then I'd drive around and pull people over and GIVE EM' THE BUSINESS...now, THAT'S TOUGH!"
"Also, my experience as a heartless, cruel, 'Corporate Raider' has hardened my heart; I'm a TOUGH GUY!!!"
"Let me repeat (as I often have!)...I, Mitt Rmoney, will be TOUGH ON CHINA...they're CHEATERS!"
"Whatever the Dept. of Defense asks for...I'll TREBLE IT! We gotta show the World...WE'RE TOUGH!"
"Oh...and I'll get us out of NATO...THEY are NOT TOUGH ENOUGH!"
"Other than that, those 4 women on The View SCARE ME!!!"
Obama has DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED American status on the world stage during his administration after the debacle that was the W. Bush administration. We may not be loved worldwide, but we sure as hell are respected. Al Queda's leadership has been decimated with constant pressure from drone strikes. He has shored up our relationships with our frinds. As a person who has traveled extensively in Europe and Asia during this and the previous administration, belive me American power and prestige is very high right now.
Comment removed by moderator. Off Topic
Obama, Clinton, Rice, and Carey LIED to you for at least 14 to 20 days. They continue to try to cover up the events of 9/11/12. Their delay tactic is "uhhh we need a full investigation." This investigation will take a minimum of two weeks and one day for sure. Every account is that a guest of our Ambassador left the consulate and 40 minutes later, 100 heavily armed fighters descend on the compound and procede to kill and burn everything in sight.
----Again, Obama, Clinton, Rice, and Carey LIED to you for at least 14 to 20 days. They continue to try to cover up the events of 9/11/12.
----How can you even consider this man and this team for president and administration of our United States of America.
Hello! We wouldn't be in this situation in the first place if the Bush admin. had payed attention the the original 9/11/2001 warnings, remember!
You're right poppaD, this is Bush's fault. Everything bad is Bush's fault. How long do we get to continue to blame him? I'm just checking so I can put the date in Outlook. Oh, and who do we blame after Bush's blaming runs out?
It's odd how juvenile trustee journalists can be with their cheap partisan politics. Tax the rich, especially trustee babies, they're totally clueless and such a bore.
This should be a no-brainer for the informed voter.
President Obama wins re-election by 6 to 8 points.
Longtime, you are right, this is a no brainer. This is from one independent to another... I cancelled out your vote.
Not sure how 1-1=0 comes to a 6-8 point win for Obama but if it keeps you sleeping peacefully at night, then, there you go.
NOvember=NObama
For Romney "foreign policy" means figuring out which country's tax shelters pays the highest return on his great fortune and which is best to take American jobs.
I'm wondering how it is that Candy Crowley just HAPPENED to have a copy of the transcript of Obama's Rose Garden speech at the last debate. WHAT a coincidence, don't you think?
LastThroes, I have missed your nonsense like Obama missed the call on Libya....BIGTIME.
I can't wait until November....it smells like victory!!
Gmag, It must be really hard for a hardcore democrat these days. You decry Romney with jingoistic slogans that he is leading a "war on women" but you just love Clinton and his one man "war on woman".
I really can't help but laugh at the libs on this site. The desperation is oozing from every pore on theirs bodies.
Does anyone else think that rebellions in 4 countries where the general populations really don't like Israel, all since the Obama regime took power in the US, is more than an odd coincidence?
"I'm wondering how it is that Candy Crowley just HAPPENED to have a copy of the transcript of Obama's Rose Garden speech at the last debate. WHAT a coincidence, don't you think?"
Crowley is CNN's chief political correspondent and unless I'm mistaken she was present at the WH press conference when President Obama made the statement.
"Does anyone else think that rebellions in 4 countries where the general populations really don't like Israel, all since the Obama regime took power in the US, is more than an odd coincidence?"
barryjohn, google "Arab Spring". You'll really learn a lot.
LastThroes, She guessed it would come up in the debates and did a little research.
I just love that the Libs are so desperate to keep Obama on his throne that they are willing to bend the facts for him. Just like the blind misguided supporters of Bush who allowed the same.
Ooops, Somehow I think Benghazi is Bush's fault.
Let's also not forget that under the Obama Regime's rules of engagement in Afghanistan, twice as many soldiers have been killed in Obama's 3.5 years than Bush's 7.5 years.
barryjohn: "in Afghanistan twice as many soldiers have been killed in Obama's 3.5 years than Bush's 7.5 years."
Yeah, because Bush was too busy having our soldiers killed in Iraq based on lies about imaginary mushroom clouds and nonexistant WMD.
@Heretic,
"Longtime, you are right, this is a no brainer. This is from one independent to another... I cancelled out your vote." (Heretic)
Aaah, my old friend Heretic. Doing it the Republican way.
Ok, I'll play the math game with you. Let's see, your vote cancels out my vote. Were both independents. Ok! So let say all independents cancels out each other. Your logic, not mine! Ok! Now, let's see, hummm, ok, I will take this to get total....ok, good! Here's the total.
Based on your logic....according to google research, registered Democrats out number registered Republicans.
In the land of Heretic, in the Bubble, Democrats win. Now, are you going to change the rules now that you lost using your logic, your rules. I'll wait...
President wins re-election by 6 to 8 points.
Longtime, here is where we differ. I really don't care who wins. I cast my vote and you cast yours. Only one of us is getting his panties in a bunch over something that neither of us controls.
I voted for Obama once, couldn't do it again. Mitt certainly isn't my first choice but currently he's my ONLY choice. If he wins; good and the great experiment begins. If Obama wins; good and the failed experiment continues.
I certainly wish you well with your math homework. Your post made no sense though; maybe it's the new math.
One question I got about this....
Exactly who is the mental midget that scheduled this debate at the same time as Monday Night Football?
I really hope President Obama doesn't slight me for my lack of loyalty for not watching it, but hell...my Chicago Bears are on!
Obama/Biden 2012! AND a Democratic Party majority in both the House and the Senate! And Dah Bearz win tonight 87 to 3!
Romney/Ryan 1040s please! When Romney comes to Las Vegas next week, somebody tackle him and get his tax returns. This has been goin' on too long. Ridiculous. The guy is hidin' somethin'....
It makes me sick that this race is even close. On one hand, we have the best Presidential candidate we've seen in over 30 years in President Romney and on the other we have the worst President we may have ever seen. Choosing Romney over Obama is like choosing ice cream over having your leg amputated. America is restored with one easy vote. ANY INFORMED VOTER votes for ROMNEY
So as not to conflict with Monday Night football, Pres Obumer has released his speach early.
http://www.americanthinker.com/video/201...
Most Americans don't even know what foreign policy is let alone care. Now ask them what the latest is on Lindsey Lohan or some other loser and they know.
Colin, "Dah Bearz win tonight 87 to 3!" This easily explains your logic for picking Obama to win...delusional
Mormon church kissed up to Hitler then to ERic Honeker, building a Temple in East Germany.