Romney Is the Republican Exception

The subject of foreign policy has thus far played a subordinate role in the Republican primary elections. Romney is the only candidate to address it.

What can we Europeans expect from President Obama’s chief rival, Mitt Romney? The Republican primary elections have never been so brutal and personal. And there have never been so many big money donors who are betting millions of dollars on one or more candidates as if it were a horse race. Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson donates money to the colorful Newt Gingrich as well as to the steely Rick Santorum. A broker in San Francisco has bets down on four different candidates.

The main issues in the campaign have to do with domestic politics: unemployment, a falling stock market, shortcomings in the healthcare system. Foreign policy gets short shrift. The exception here is Mitt Romney, long considered the heir apparent, who has an intense interest in security policy.

He is interested in Europe, speaks fluent French and has an outstanding support staff of former diplomats, academics and journalists upon whom he can depend. First and foremost is his foreign policy advisor, Kerry Healey, who until recently was Massachusetts Deputy Governor.

Europe is the Focus of Mitt Romney’s Foreign Policy

Mitt Romney sees Europe as the focal point for U.S. foreign policy, but also sees the importance of Asia and has a good grasp of the turbulence in the Middle East. Kerry Healey hopes they will visit South America this summer and, above all, Europe: London, Paris and a central European capital, probably Prague.

He mainly wants to calm fears on NATO’s eastern borders of an increasingly autocratic Russia that appears to be experimenting with an unpredictable foreign policy.

In the Middle East, Romney sees danger and increased uncertainty in an Arab Spring that appears to be threatened by frost. His feelings toward Israel are without doubt friendly and understanding. On the subject of Iran, he is inclined to go beyond Obama’s strategy of sanctions and favors regime change.

Obama’s Chances Are Improving

At present, Obama’s outlook is far brighter than it was just recently. Unemployment numbers are down, there’s no denying the improvement in the economy, and his personal popularity is higher than it was just a few months ago.

But even his optimistic supporters are unwilling to predict an election-day victory. What’s hurting the Republicans is the brutal struggle within their own party. Someone with a knowledge of German literature in Romney’s think tank quoted Schiller, calling it “shadowboxing in Hell.”