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| Romney and Obama Bristle From Start | |
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| BOCA RATON, Fla. — President Obama and Mitt Romney wrapped up a series of debates on Monday night with a bristling exchange over America’s place in the world as each sought to portray the other as an unreliable commander in chief in a dangerous era. | BOCA RATON, Fla. — President Obama and Mitt Romney wrapped up a series of debates on Monday night with a bristling exchange over America’s place in the world as each sought to portray the other as an unreliable commander in chief in a dangerous era. |
| Mr. Obama picked up right where he had left off in last week’s debate, going on the offensive from the very start and accusing his challenger of articulating an incoherent foreign policy. Mr. Romney opened less aggressively but accused the president of failing to adequately assert American interests and values, particularly in Libya, where an attack last month killed the American ambassador. | Mr. Obama picked up right where he had left off in last week’s debate, going on the offensive from the very start and accusing his challenger of articulating an incoherent foreign policy. Mr. Romney opened less aggressively but accused the president of failing to adequately assert American interests and values, particularly in Libya, where an attack last month killed the American ambassador. |
| What America needed, Mr. Obama said within minutes of the debate’s opening at Lynn University here, is “strong steady leadership, not wrong and reckless leadership that’s all over the map.” | What America needed, Mr. Obama said within minutes of the debate’s opening at Lynn University here, is “strong steady leadership, not wrong and reckless leadership that’s all over the map.” |
| Mr. Romney countered by calling the president counterproductive and interested only in scoring political points. “Attacking me is not an agenda,” he said. “Attacking me is not talking about how we’re going to deal with the challenges that exist in the Middle East.” | Mr. Romney countered by calling the president counterproductive and interested only in scoring political points. “Attacking me is not an agenda,” he said. “Attacking me is not talking about how we’re going to deal with the challenges that exist in the Middle East.” |
| The debate, dedicated to foreign policy, was the last opportunity for the candidates to face each other directly before the Nov. 6 election. While international relations have often taken a back seat to the economy and domestic issues during the marathon campaign, whoever wins in two weeks will inherit a world with increasingly complicated challenges, from the tumult in the Middle East to a resurgent Russia to an emerging China. | The debate, dedicated to foreign policy, was the last opportunity for the candidates to face each other directly before the Nov. 6 election. While international relations have often taken a back seat to the economy and domestic issues during the marathon campaign, whoever wins in two weeks will inherit a world with increasingly complicated challenges, from the tumult in the Middle East to a resurgent Russia to an emerging China. |
| Mr. Romney opened the debate with praise for the president for the killing of Osama bin Laden but quickly pivoted to say a broader strategy was needed to address the “rising tide of chaos” in the Middle East. “I congratulate him on taking out Osama bin Laden and going after the leadership in Al Qaeda,” he said, “but we can’t kill our way out of this mess.” | Mr. Romney opened the debate with praise for the president for the killing of Osama bin Laden but quickly pivoted to say a broader strategy was needed to address the “rising tide of chaos” in the Middle East. “I congratulate him on taking out Osama bin Laden and going after the leadership in Al Qaeda,” he said, “but we can’t kill our way out of this mess.” |
| Mr. Obama quickly went on the offense. “I have to tell you that your strategy previously has been one which has been all over the map,” he told Mr. Romney, facing him directly. | Mr. Obama quickly went on the offense. “I have to tell you that your strategy previously has been one which has been all over the map,” he told Mr. Romney, facing him directly. |
| “My strategy is pretty straightforward, which is to go after the bad guys,” Mr. Romney replied. “But my strategy is broader than that.” It is important to get the Muslim world to reject extremism, he added. “We don’t want another Iraq. We don’t want another Afghanistan.” | “My strategy is pretty straightforward, which is to go after the bad guys,” Mr. Romney replied. “But my strategy is broader than that.” It is important to get the Muslim world to reject extremism, he added. “We don’t want another Iraq. We don’t want another Afghanistan.” |
| The two men clashed over Mr. Romney’s call for the United States to arm the rebels in Syria. The president said that while “what we’re seeing happening in Syria is heartbreaking,” the United States should not arm the Syrian rebels until Americans could be sure they knew exactly whom they were dealing with. | The two men clashed over Mr. Romney’s call for the United States to arm the rebels in Syria. The president said that while “what we’re seeing happening in Syria is heartbreaking,” the United States should not arm the Syrian rebels until Americans could be sure they knew exactly whom they were dealing with. |
| Pressed about whether he would go beyond what the administration was doing, Mr. Romney said his objective was to replace President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, and to put in place a government that would be more friendly to the United States. He was unclear about how he would accomplish that, saying the United States should take “a leading role” to find opposition leaders with whom it could have friendly ties. | Pressed about whether he would go beyond what the administration was doing, Mr. Romney said his objective was to replace President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, and to put in place a government that would be more friendly to the United States. He was unclear about how he would accomplish that, saying the United States should take “a leading role” to find opposition leaders with whom it could have friendly ties. |
| Mr. Obama replied: “What you’ve just heard Governor Romney say is that he doesn’t have different ideas.” | Mr. Obama replied: “What you’ve just heard Governor Romney say is that he doesn’t have different ideas.” |
| Mr. Romney sought to use the words of the Iranian leader, a hard-line Islamist who considers the United States the “Great Satan,” to give credence to his argument that the United States has become weak. “When the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, says our debt makes us not a strong country, that’s a frightening thing,” Mr. Romney said. | Mr. Romney sought to use the words of the Iranian leader, a hard-line Islamist who considers the United States the “Great Satan,” to give credence to his argument that the United States has become weak. “When the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, says our debt makes us not a strong country, that’s a frightening thing,” Mr. Romney said. |
| He went on a lengthy soliloquy about American leadership in the world, and accused Mr. Obama of weakening the country. | He went on a lengthy soliloquy about American leadership in the world, and accused Mr. Obama of weakening the country. |
| The two also clashed over Russia and Mr. Obama’s policy of trying to “reset” the relationship with Moscow, an effort that has faltered since Vladimir V. Putin returned to the presidency this year. | The two also clashed over Russia and Mr. Obama’s policy of trying to “reset” the relationship with Moscow, an effort that has faltered since Vladimir V. Putin returned to the presidency this year. |
| Mr. Obama struck first, citing Mr. Romney’s assessment that Russia was America’s No. 1 one geopolitical foe as a relic of cold war thinking. “The 1980s, they’re now calling to ask for their foreign policy back,” the president said. | Mr. Obama struck first, citing Mr. Romney’s assessment that Russia was America’s No. 1 one geopolitical foe as a relic of cold war thinking. “The 1980s, they’re now calling to ask for their foreign policy back,” the president said. |
| Mr. Romney distinguished a “geopolitical” rival from a more pressing national security threat like Iran, but said he would not be naïve about Moscow. “I’m not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia or Mr. Putin,” he said. Noting Mr. Obama’s overheard remark to Mr. Putin’s predecessor that he would have more flexibility after the election, Mr. Romney said, “After the election, he’ll get more backbone.” | Mr. Romney distinguished a “geopolitical” rival from a more pressing national security threat like Iran, but said he would not be naïve about Moscow. “I’m not going to wear rose-colored glasses when it comes to Russia or Mr. Putin,” he said. Noting Mr. Obama’s overheard remark to Mr. Putin’s predecessor that he would have more flexibility after the election, Mr. Romney said, “After the election, he’ll get more backbone.” |
| Because the format of this last debate echoed that of the vice-presidential debate, Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney were not roaming the stage, as they were in the last debate, or standing behind lecterns, as they did in the first debate. Rather, they sat side by side at a table before the moderator, Bob Schieffer of CBS News. | Because the format of this last debate echoed that of the vice-presidential debate, Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney were not roaming the stage, as they were in the last debate, or standing behind lecterns, as they did in the first debate. Rather, they sat side by side at a table before the moderator, Bob Schieffer of CBS News. |
| The seating did nothing to contain the testiness of the debate, which began as soon as the two men started talking. Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama interrupted each other time and again, with the president slicing the table with his hands to make his point. Mr. Romney sat stiffly, his hands before him, back ramrod. The two spoke for several minutes at a stretch without interruption by Mr. Schieffer. | The seating did nothing to contain the testiness of the debate, which began as soon as the two men started talking. Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama interrupted each other time and again, with the president slicing the table with his hands to make his point. Mr. Romney sat stiffly, his hands before him, back ramrod. The two spoke for several minutes at a stretch without interruption by Mr. Schieffer. |
| The candidates repeatedly drifted toward domestic issues, often at the instigation of Mr. Romney, who suggested America’s own economic woes were undermining the nation’s ability to lead abroad. | The candidates repeatedly drifted toward domestic issues, often at the instigation of Mr. Romney, who suggested America’s own economic woes were undermining the nation’s ability to lead abroad. |
| The debate was competing for viewers against two high-profile sporting events, game seven of the National League Championship Series and “Monday Night Football.” The candidates arrived as Mr. Romney has erased the president’s lead nationally and even surged ahead in some polls, convincing many Republicans for the first time that he can win. Mr. Obama has been bolstered by more positive polls in key states, although even there his advantage has eroded. | The debate was competing for viewers against two high-profile sporting events, game seven of the National League Championship Series and “Monday Night Football.” The candidates arrived as Mr. Romney has erased the president’s lead nationally and even surged ahead in some polls, convincing many Republicans for the first time that he can win. Mr. Obama has been bolstered by more positive polls in key states, although even there his advantage has eroded. |
| The closeness of the race coupled with the deadly attack last month on the American diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, raised the stakes for a debate that at one point was considered something of an afterthought. With the economy still struggling and national debt on the rise, foreign policy has been a low priority for many voters, according to polls, but both candidates hoped to use their final showdown to undercut their rival’s credibility with voters on leadership and character. | The closeness of the race coupled with the deadly attack last month on the American diplomatic outpost in Benghazi, Libya, raised the stakes for a debate that at one point was considered something of an afterthought. With the economy still struggling and national debt on the rise, foreign policy has been a low priority for many voters, according to polls, but both candidates hoped to use their final showdown to undercut their rival’s credibility with voters on leadership and character. |
| Mr. Obama started the general election contest with foreign policy as a political asset. While Democrats in the past often struggled with the party’s weak-on-security reputation, Mr. Obama had a record of authorizing the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, wiping out many Al Qaeda figures through an aggressive drone war, and helping topple the Libyan government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. | Mr. Obama started the general election contest with foreign policy as a political asset. While Democrats in the past often struggled with the party’s weak-on-security reputation, Mr. Obama had a record of authorizing the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, wiping out many Al Qaeda figures through an aggressive drone war, and helping topple the Libyan government of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. |
| But what was a strength has turned into more of a target for Republican attacks, particularly after the Libya assault that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. The administration’s rejection of security requests before the attack and shifting assessments after it exposed Mr. Obama to criticism. | But what was a strength has turned into more of a target for Republican attacks, particularly after the Libya assault that killed Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. The administration’s rejection of security requests before the attack and shifting assessments after it exposed Mr. Obama to criticism. |
| On the question of who would make a better commander in chief, Mr. Obama’s 10-point advantage in July has shrunk to a three-point edge in the latest NBC-Wall Street Journal poll, with 44 percent picking him and 41 percent Mr. Romney. | On the question of who would make a better commander in chief, Mr. Obama’s 10-point advantage in July has shrunk to a three-point edge in the latest NBC-Wall Street Journal poll, with 44 percent picking him and 41 percent Mr. Romney. |
| Mr. Romney stumbled in his efforts to accelerate that shift during last week’s debate when he focused on the matter of when Mr. Obama first called the assault in Benghazi a terrorist attack. Mr. Obama parried by noting that he had referred to “acts of terror” in his first statement on the episode, which seemed to surprise Mr. Romney. The exchange overshadowed Mr. Obama’s failure to respond to a voter who asked why requests for additional security had been denied. | Mr. Romney stumbled in his efforts to accelerate that shift during last week’s debate when he focused on the matter of when Mr. Obama first called the assault in Benghazi a terrorist attack. Mr. Obama parried by noting that he had referred to “acts of terror” in his first statement on the episode, which seemed to surprise Mr. Romney. The exchange overshadowed Mr. Obama’s failure to respond to a voter who asked why requests for additional security had been denied. |
| Republicans were determined to frame the issue better heading into Monday night. American Crossroads, a pro-Romney “super PAC,” released a video declaring that “today terrorists are on the rise” while showing pictures of unrest across the Middle East and tracking the administration’s changing statements about Benghazi. The Romney campaign also sent a blitz of e-mails accusing Mr. Obama of going soft on China, Iran and Russia. | Republicans were determined to frame the issue better heading into Monday night. American Crossroads, a pro-Romney “super PAC,” released a video declaring that “today terrorists are on the rise” while showing pictures of unrest across the Middle East and tracking the administration’s changing statements about Benghazi. The Romney campaign also sent a blitz of e-mails accusing Mr. Obama of going soft on China, Iran and Russia. |
| The Obama campaign countered with a series of Web videos attacking Mr. Romney for statements like calling Russia the No. 1 geopolitical foe of the United States. Another video highlighted Mr. Obama’s efforts to end wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, implying Mr. Romney would continue them. Mr. Romney “offers nothing but endless bluster and a record of dangerous blunders,” Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Mr. Obama’s partner during preparations for the debate, wrote in a memo. | The Obama campaign countered with a series of Web videos attacking Mr. Romney for statements like calling Russia the No. 1 geopolitical foe of the United States. Another video highlighted Mr. Obama’s efforts to end wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, implying Mr. Romney would continue them. Mr. Romney “offers nothing but endless bluster and a record of dangerous blunders,” Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Mr. Obama’s partner during preparations for the debate, wrote in a memo. |
| The debate over Iran is, to a certain extent, a fight for the Jewish vote. Israel views Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to its existence. While Mr. Obama has vowed not to allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, Mr. Romney’s position has shifted from a more hawkish position to Mr. Obama’s position, and then back to statements that, as president, he would stop Iran from obtaining even the capability to make a nuclear weapon. Mr. Romney has also said he would not agree to any uranium enrichment for Iran, even though foreign-policy experts say such a concession will be necessary in any diplomatic deal. | The debate over Iran is, to a certain extent, a fight for the Jewish vote. Israel views Iran’s nuclear program as a threat to its existence. While Mr. Obama has vowed not to allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, Mr. Romney’s position has shifted from a more hawkish position to Mr. Obama’s position, and then back to statements that, as president, he would stop Iran from obtaining even the capability to make a nuclear weapon. Mr. Romney has also said he would not agree to any uranium enrichment for Iran, even though foreign-policy experts say such a concession will be necessary in any diplomatic deal. |
| Mr. Romney has accused Mr. Obama of allowing distance to appear between the United States and Israel; Mr. Obama has noted that his administration provided much of the Iron Dome missile defense system for Israel. In addition, for the last five years, the United States and Israel have worked closely on a major covert operation against Iran called Olympic Games, an effort to sabotage Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities with cyberattacks. | Mr. Romney has accused Mr. Obama of allowing distance to appear between the United States and Israel; Mr. Obama has noted that his administration provided much of the Iron Dome missile defense system for Israel. In addition, for the last five years, the United States and Israel have worked closely on a major covert operation against Iran called Olympic Games, an effort to sabotage Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities with cyberattacks. |
| But Mr. Obama and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have a chilly relationship, while Mr. Romney has gone out of his way to court Mr. Netanyahu, even at the expense of his relationship with Palestinians. A video captured Mr. Romney saying at a fund-raiser that he did not see any prospects for Palestinian statehood. He has since made a recommitment to the goal of a democratic Palestinian state side by side with Israel. | But Mr. Obama and Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have a chilly relationship, while Mr. Romney has gone out of his way to court Mr. Netanyahu, even at the expense of his relationship with Palestinians. A video captured Mr. Romney saying at a fund-raiser that he did not see any prospects for Palestinian statehood. He has since made a recommitment to the goal of a democratic Palestinian state side by side with Israel. |
| The fight for the Jewish vote has been an uphill struggle for Republicans, but Romney aides believe that if they can make a dent in the Democratic Party’s Jewish base in Florida, they can increase Mr. Romney’s chances in a crucial state. | The fight for the Jewish vote has been an uphill struggle for Republicans, but Romney aides believe that if they can make a dent in the Democratic Party’s Jewish base in Florida, they can increase Mr. Romney’s chances in a crucial state. |
| With the end of the debates, Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney will embark on a two-week sprint to Election Day, concentrating on a handful states that may prove pivotal. Mr. Obama plans a 48-hour tour with stops in Iowa, Colorado, Nevada, Virginia, Ohio and back here in Florida. Mr. Romney plans to head to Nevada, Colorado, Iowa and Ohio. | With the end of the debates, Mr. Obama and Mr. Romney will embark on a two-week sprint to Election Day, concentrating on a handful states that may prove pivotal. Mr. Obama plans a 48-hour tour with stops in Iowa, Colorado, Nevada, Virginia, Ohio and back here in Florida. Mr. Romney plans to head to Nevada, Colorado, Iowa and Ohio. |