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Several New Mexico political experts said President Barack Obama presented a forceful and effective case for his foreign policy in Monday night’s debate, helped by being commander in chief.
Lonna Atkeson, a University of New Mexico political science professor, said the foreign policy topic of the third and final presidential debate was more of a challenge for Republican Mitt Romney.
“The foreign policy debate is the most difficult for Romney because, frankly, whoever is president knows more about what is going on and is more intimate with all the details,”Atkeson said. “Obama was in a position of strength in terms of his ability to talk about the world.”
Atkeson said Romney tried to pivot to domestic issues, such as the economy- which many pundits say is the most powerful election-year-issue – with some success.
“Romney tried to bring it back to domestic issues as much as he could,” she said, adding that the candidates actually seemed to agree on some foreign policy issues. “The problem with foreign policy is, what are their differences?”
Brian Sanderoff, president of Research & Polling Inc. and the Journal’s pollster, also viewed the foreign policy subject matter as benefiting Obama.
“He has been the commander in chief for four years and he can tout some foreign policy successes and is less vulnerable than in what we saw in the debates on domestic issues,” Sanderoff said. “Mitt Romney is clearly more enthusiastic and comfortable talking about the economy than foreign affairs.”
Sanderoff said Romney, who has aggressively attacked Obama in previous debates, struck a different tone Monday night.
“He passed on numerous opportunities to be more critical of the president on Libya and the ambassador’s murder, and on Israel,” Sanderoff said. “Instead, Romney decided not to get aggressive. He also toned down the hawkishness. Americans want a steady hand when it comes to foreign policy.”
Gabriel Sanchez, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico, said the Democratic president came out on top Monday night.
“I think the president clearly won the debate,” Sanchez said. “He projected himself as a more decisive commander in chief, and that’s what he really had to do. It’s critical for him because Romney has been hammering on him that he’s weak and dangerous for the country.”
Sanchez said it wasn’t just Romney who seemed happy to change the subject to domestic affairs.
“Both candidates understand that voters, particularly undecided voters, are much more focused on domestic issues,” Sanchez said. “They’re not going to win points talking about abstract foreign policy stuff.”
Sanchez and Sanderoff both said Romney accomplished his objective of not appearing too aggressive on foreign policy at a time when Americans are weary of protracted wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“His strategy was somewhat to be more moderate, not to be as aggressive, and I think that he was successful in that strategy,” Sanchez said. “He didn’t make any gaffes or missteps, but I wouldn’t say he had any major highlights either.” N.M. REACTION
— This article appeared on page A5 of the Albuquerque Journal
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