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US election debate: Candidates to spar on foreign policy US election debate: Candidates spar on foreign policy
(about 11 hours later)
Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are set to meet in their third and final debate ahead of 6 November's presidential election - focusing on foreign policy. By Jude Sheerin BBC News, Boca Raton, Florida
href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20007854" >Libya and Iran will likely feature, as well as terrorism, a rising China and the wars in Afghanistan and Syria. US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney are clashing over national security, in the third and final presidential debate.
The 90-minute televised event in Boca Raton, Florida will be their last head-to-head clash before the election and is expected to draw 60 million viewers. Mr Romney said the US under President Obama had allowed a "rising tide of chaos" to sweep the Middle East.
But Mr Obama accused his rival of inconsistent policies on Iraq and Afghanistan that would bring "wrong and reckless leadership".
The two candidates are in a dead heat with two weeks until the election.
Mr Romney highlighted civilian deaths in Syria, the Muslim Brotherhood taking power in Egypt, the rise of al-Qaeda affiliates in North Africa, Iran's nuclear programme, and last month's Libya US consulate attack as examples of the "tumult" that the Obama administration had allowed to overtake the region.
But Mr Obama hit back.
The president said he was glad Mr Romney had recognised the threat posed by al-Qaeda, reminding the former Massachusetts governor that he had earlier this year cast Russia as America's number one geopolitical foe.
An NBC poll on Sunday put the men in a dead heat, each with 47% support.An NBC poll on Sunday put the men in a dead heat, each with 47% support.
Monday's debate at Lynn University will begin at 2100 EDT (0100 GMT on Tuesday) and be moderated by CBS News' veteran anchorman Bob Schieffer. Monday's debate at Lynn University is moderated by CBS News' veteran presenter Bob Schieffer.
Talks with Iran?Talks with Iran?
Mr Obama will be aiming to stress his commander-in-chief credentials as the man who killed Osama Bin Laden and ended the Iraq war, analysts say, while trying to portray Mr Romney as lacking the experience to steer the nation through a crisis. Mr Obama aims to stress his commander-in-chief credentials as the man who killed Osama Bin Laden and ended the Iraq war, analysts say, while trying to portray Mr Romney as lacking the experience to steer the nation through a crisis.
Polling suggests Mr Obama has a small advantage in voter perceptions about which candidate is best prepared to handle US foreign policy in a chaotic world.Polling suggests Mr Obama has a small advantage in voter perceptions about which candidate is best prepared to handle US foreign policy in a chaotic world.
For his part, Mr Romney is expected to push his campaign's position that US foreign policy is "unravelling before our very eyes".For his part, Mr Romney is expected to push his campaign's position that US foreign policy is "unravelling before our very eyes".
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    At a confrontational second debate in New York last week, Mr Romney said the 11 September attack on the US consulate in Benghazi - which killed four Americans including the US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens - and wider anti-American violence in the Middle East were symptomatic of that decline. href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23LynnDebate" target="_blank">#LynnDebate.Obama says Romney "wrong and reckless" href="http://twitter.com/BBCNewsUS" target="_blank">@BBCNewsUS
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    "Mitt Romney knows how to lead... he is qualified to be commander-in-chief," Republican Senator and 2008 presidential candidate John McCain told the BBC ahead of the debate.
    "He is just like Ronald Reagan - he believes in American exceptionalism."
    At a confrontational second debate in New York last week, Mr Romney said the 11 September attack on the US consulate in Benghazi - which killed four Americans including the US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens - and wider anti-American violence in the Middle East were symptomatic of Mr Obama's leadership failure.
    The Republican candidate accused Mr Obama of initially downplaying the role of radical Islamists in the Benghazi attack - in order to show the Obama administration had had a successful anti-terrorist track record.
    Mr Obama countered that he had denounced the killing as "an act of terror", snapping that Mr Romney should "check the transcript" rather than trying to score political points from the tragedy.Mr Obama countered that he had denounced the killing as "an act of terror", snapping that Mr Romney should "check the transcript" rather than trying to score political points from the tragedy.
    The former Massachusetts governor has accused the president of not being firm enough in support of America's principal Middle Eastern ally, Israel. In what the BBC's Jude Sheerin described as a possible preview to Mr Romney's debate argument, Mr McCain said Mr Obama had "allowed the consulate in Benghazi to become a death trap" and then deceived the American people about the nature of the attack.
    "I knew Chris Stevens very well," Mr McCain told our correspondent. "I was a good friend of his. His death didn't have to happen. There were plenty of reports about the security problems."
    The former Massachusetts governor has also accused the president of not being firm enough in support of America's principal Middle Eastern ally, Israel.
    Mr Obama has a chilly relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has refused to bow to Israeli pressure to issue ultimatums to Iran over its nuclear programme.Mr Obama has a chilly relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has refused to bow to Israeli pressure to issue ultimatums to Iran over its nuclear programme.
    On such issues, Mr Romney has not spelt out what he would do differently - except be tougher. He has raised Iran's quest for nuclear weapons - which Tehran denies - as evidence of President Obama's lack of leadership.On such issues, Mr Romney has not spelt out what he would do differently - except be tougher. He has raised Iran's quest for nuclear weapons - which Tehran denies - as evidence of President Obama's lack of leadership.
    During the weekend, reports surfaced that the White House was open to one-on-one talks with Iran - but that there were no talks planned. The president routinely says a nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable, but also praises the people of Iran.During the weekend, reports surfaced that the White House was open to one-on-one talks with Iran - but that there were no talks planned. The president routinely says a nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable, but also praises the people of Iran.
    Mr Romney will likely use the reports to show Mr Obama as weak, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington.Mr Romney will likely use the reports to show Mr Obama as weak, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington.
    While Mr Obama sees China as a competitor in the global market, Mr Romney has been more outspoken on the emerging global superpower, saying Beijing cheats by manipulating the value of its currency against the US dollar - and that he will crack down.While Mr Obama sees China as a competitor in the global market, Mr Romney has been more outspoken on the emerging global superpower, saying Beijing cheats by manipulating the value of its currency against the US dollar - and that he will crack down.
    But the millionaire businessman has also stumbled on international issues, managing to upset as many people as he impressed during a tour of href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19007127" >Europe and href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19055643" >Israel this summer. But the millionaire businessman has also stumbled on international issues, managing to upset as many people as he impressed during a tour of Europe and Israel this summer.
    Much as Monday's debate is about foreign policy, the candidates will use any opportunity to highlight the strengths of their economic policies, analysts say.Much as Monday's debate is about foreign policy, the candidates will use any opportunity to highlight the strengths of their economic policies, analysts say.
    Economy and jobsEconomy and jobs
    Mr Obama spent the weekend preparing for the debate at the presidential retreat in Camp David in Maryland's Catoctin mountains.
    His opponent acclimatised in Florida with the same intensive preparations that have taken up much of his time this month.
    A lacklustre performance by Mr Obama in the opening debate in Denver, Colorado, on 3 October gave Mr Romney a campaign boost.A lacklustre performance by Mr Obama in the opening debate in Denver, Colorado, on 3 October gave Mr Romney a campaign boost.
    But in their second face-off in New York last week, a more aggressive Barack Obama buried the memory of a poor first showing as he came out swinging on the economy, tax and foreign policy.But in their second face-off in New York last week, a more aggressive Barack Obama buried the memory of a poor first showing as he came out swinging on the economy, tax and foreign policy.
    After Monday night's showdown, both candidates will be returning to the campaign trail for a gruelling final two weeks of wooing voters in swing states.After Monday night's showdown, both candidates will be returning to the campaign trail for a gruelling final two weeks of wooing voters in swing states.
    Because the presidency is decided through state-by-state contests, campaigns are focused on the nine or so states that are not essentially decided.Because the presidency is decided through state-by-state contests, campaigns are focused on the nine or so states that are not essentially decided.
    Certain states, such as Ohio, Virginia and Florida - where the key issues for voters remains the economy and jobs - are seen as particularly essential to both candidates' hopes of winning.Certain states, such as Ohio, Virginia and Florida - where the key issues for voters remains the economy and jobs - are seen as particularly essential to both candidates' hopes of winning.
    The system can lead to a candidate winning the popular vote but losing the presidency, as former Vice President Al Gore did in 2000. The system can lead to a candidate winning the popular vote but losing the presidency, as former Vice-president Al Gore did in 2000.