The Presidential Definition in the United States

The country’s economic uncertainty has put this issue at the center of a campaign where internal affairs take precedence over foreign policy.

Although the completion of the conventions where Republicans and Democrats must officially nominate their respective candidates is still pending, the U.S. presidential race appears to have hit the ground running with the appointment of the Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan. With the announcement of his candidacy, the last significant question that remained open was eliminated, allowing President Barack Obama and his opponent, former Gov. Mitt Romney, deploy their strategies and guidelines to expose their programs to the public.

In a country that has proven to be sharply divided in past elections, where several of the traditional consensuses have been broken, the presidential election is especially important. President Obama has recognized this by noting that in November there are important issues at stake and that the consequences of the decision of the electorate will be felt for a long time. The differences separating Romney and Obama are large and reflect issues of great importance, ranging from what role the United States should play in the international arena, and how to behave in it, to what the role of the state and the individual in the economic order should be.

Since 2008, the northern country has been going through a delicate economic situation following the financial crisis triggered by the bursting of the housing bubble, which has failed to recover despite billions poured into plans for recovery from the White House and monetary stimulus by the Federal Reserve. High levels of unemployment and deficits have been the most visible consequence of this crisis. The economic problems coupled with the uncertainties generated by the way in which U.S. military forces left Iraq, and continue to manage in Afghanistan, create enormous doubts within the country. The result is a loss of confidence in Washington’s ability to lead in a complex world, where other powers are emerging, forcefully posing a challenge to U.S. hegemony.

The economic uncertainty that lives in the United States has put this issue at the center of a campaign where internal affairs take precedence over foreign policy considerations. Proof of this is the appointment of Ryan as Romney’s running mate. The representative from Wisconsin gained national notoriety by presenting a bold economic recovery plan that includes deep tax reforms in the pension system and public health in order to reduce the fiscal deficit through the delivery through the private sector. The fact that Romney chose him shows the importance that the economic issue has taken in the race for the White House, marking a sharp contrast with Obama, who emphasizes a more activist role for the government in the economy.

As always, in the American presidential campaign the personalities of the candidates will also play a key role. Admittedly with less intensity than in 2008, Obama retains a significant share of his personal appeal; an issue for a less empathic Romney, who will try to counter with proposals that are interesting to the electorate.