Since the first presidential debate, where the general consensus was one of surprise — both of Romney’s level of animation and at Obama’s slow approach — predictions have come in about the second presidential debate this week. Even though both sides are pointing towards their candidate as the one to win it, everyone agrees it’s important. But, arguably, it’s more important for Romney than for Obama. Obama still has the last debate, centered on foreign policy and considered safely in the realm of Obama. If Romney can’t make his mark on the debate over the economy, he will not get elected.
Swinging it back around
A president doesn’t always have an advantage on foreign policy. Sure, the incumbent has access to much more information than their challengers, plus they can point to four years as Commander-in-Chief. But it can equally be a liability, out of the direct control of a president. Malicious would events can harm a presidents reputation if he fails to respond properly. The Republicans tried to attack Obama over the embassy attacks in Lybia and Egypt, but that ended up backfiring.
Obamas foreign credentials are solid, which is why he is spending more time preparing for debate number two. He needs an animated performance with specific ideas to continue to improve the nation’s economy. All of the economic indicators are in his favor: job creation has recovered and continued steadily, corporate profits are up, Wall Street is back at or near the highest it’s ever been. Unemployment just dipped below 8%. Obama needs to exploit these numbers, contrast them with the conditions when he took office and ask the American people, are you better off today than you were four years ago? By nearly every measure, the answer to that question is yes.
Meanwhile, Romney, having no options for the third debate, must put everything he has into the debate tomorrow. He is trusted most on economic issues. People look to his personal wealth and assume that the man knows what he’s talking about when it comes to making money. But the problem with a president is that he must be a job creator, not necessarily a capital creator. Mitt Romney was, during his time leading the many faces of Bain Capital, not concerned with the number of jobs he created, he was concerned with the amount of profit he made from purchasing, developing, and selling companies. Corporate profits in America are at record highs, what is needed is a slew of hiring. For that, corporate leaders must restructure their bonuses and hire more workers. Romney is not of that persuasion, and neither is his primary constituency, so it will be interesting to hear what he has to say.