[h=3]By PETER LANDERS, COLLEEN MCCAIN NELSON and CAROL E. LEE[/h]BOCA RATON, Fla.—Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney expressed skepticism about the fate of the Arab Spring but refrained from taking on President Barack Obama directly over his response to the attack that killed the American ambassador in Libya.
The first question at the third and final debate between the presidential contenders involved Libya. Mr. Romney said he saw "a dramatic reversal in the kind of hopes we had for this region," citing the rise of extremists in parts of the region. He praised Mr. Obama for ordering the killing of Osama bin Laden but added, "We can't kill our way out of this mess."
Mr. Obama quickly went on the attack, observing that Mr. Romney once named Russia as the top geopolitical foe of the U.S. "The 1980s are calling to ask for their foreign policy back," quipped Mr. Obama.
"Attacking me is not an agenda," responded Mr. Romney. He accused Mr. Obama of being soft on Russia and said Russian President Vladimir Putin would get more "backbone" if Mr. Obama were re-elected.
The 90-minute showdown at Lynn University here comes just two weeks before the Nov. 6 vote. The two men sat at a table answering questions from moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News. The first debate on Oct. 3 covered domestic policy and the second on Oct. 16 was in a town-hall format with the candidates taking questions from the audience.
Mitt Romney and President Obama differ on defense spending, missile defense and other aspects of foreign and national security policy, but their contrasts overall are more on tone than substance. Photo: Getty Images.
This time, the focus was on foreign policy, with a heavy emphasis on the Middle East.
Messrs. Romney and Obama entered the final debate running even, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll that showed each candidate registering 47% support among likely voters. While the number of undecided voters is dwindling, the last few weeks have underscored the fact that debates have the potential to change the narrative.
Mr. Obama has argued that he followed through on his foreign-policy promises in 2008—ending the war in Iraq, putting new focus on the war in Afghanistan and restoring U.S. alliances around the world. He and Vice President Joe Biden have accused Mr. Romney of engaging in bluster and failing to lay out a clear vision for foreign relations.
Charlie Neibergall/Associated PressCutouts of President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney lay on the ground before the candidates' final debate Monday at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
A new Obama campaign ad released Monday focuses on some of those points, highlighting the end of the Iraq war and the president's plan to bring troops home from Afghanistan. The television spot suggests that Mr. Romney supports endless war, while Mr. Obama wants to invest in America.
Mr. Romney has argued that under Mr. Obama, Iran has moved closer to having nuclear-weapons capability, relations with Israel have suffered and the military has been threatened with huge budget cuts. The Republican nominee has said that he would emphasize peace through strength as president, pledging that allies wouldn't question the U.S. commitment to support them and that enemies who attack America wouldn't question U.S. resolve to defeat them.
Lynn University, venue for the final Presidential Debate, is hosting a pre-debate pool party to celebrate and keep students engaged. A debate-watching party will follow on the school's soccer field. Video by WSJ's Jeff Bush via #WorldStream.
"We can't afford four more years of President Obama leading from behind," said Gail Gitcho, Mr. Romney's communications director.
Foreign policy generally has been considered a strong suit for the president. While the president's approval ratings on foreign policy have slipped in many recent polls, the WSJ/NBC survey shows that Mr. Obama still leads, 46% to 38%, on the question of which candidate would be better at handling foreign policy.
Mr. Romney has sometimes struggled to specify how his approach on foreign policy would be different from the president's, and his trip abroad last summer was marred by missteps. But the Republican nominee has seized on the tough questions about the Obama administration's handling of the deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last month.
Both men prepared intensively for their final meeting. Mr. Obama spent the weekend at Camp David, the secluded presidential retreat in Maryland, with his top aides, including Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes. Prep sessions started each morning around 10, and mock debates didn't wrap up until about 10 each night.
Associated PressA worker adjusts the backdrop on stage in preparation for Monday's presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
Mr. Romney and a small coterie of advisers, including Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio), who stands in for the president in these sessions, spent the weekend at a hotel in Delray Beach, Fla.
During preparations for all the debates, the Romney team has worked to replicate even small details with dress rehearsals and extensive efforts to mimic the setup and conditions expected onstage. A campaign official noted that Peter Flaherty, the Romney adviser who was playing Mr. Schieffer, even donned "Schieffer-style purple socks and tie" during their sessions this weekend.
Mr. Obama met Monday morning for 45 minutes with his prep team at Camp David, Md., before flying to Florida. Aides said Mr. Obama was having a steak dinner. Mr. Romney was more conservative at lunchtime, opting for a veggie burger with Cajun fries and a vanilla shake.
Write to Colleen McCain Nelson at [email protected] and Carol E. Lee at [email protected]
The first question at the third and final debate between the presidential contenders involved Libya. Mr. Romney said he saw "a dramatic reversal in the kind of hopes we had for this region," citing the rise of extremists in parts of the region. He praised Mr. Obama for ordering the killing of Osama bin Laden but added, "We can't kill our way out of this mess."
Mr. Obama quickly went on the attack, observing that Mr. Romney once named Russia as the top geopolitical foe of the U.S. "The 1980s are calling to ask for their foreign policy back," quipped Mr. Obama.
"Attacking me is not an agenda," responded Mr. Romney. He accused Mr. Obama of being soft on Russia and said Russian President Vladimir Putin would get more "backbone" if Mr. Obama were re-elected.
The 90-minute showdown at Lynn University here comes just two weeks before the Nov. 6 vote. The two men sat at a table answering questions from moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News. The first debate on Oct. 3 covered domestic policy and the second on Oct. 16 was in a town-hall format with the candidates taking questions from the audience.
Mitt Romney and President Obama differ on defense spending, missile defense and other aspects of foreign and national security policy, but their contrasts overall are more on tone than substance. Photo: Getty Images.
This time, the focus was on foreign policy, with a heavy emphasis on the Middle East.
Messrs. Romney and Obama entered the final debate running even, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll that showed each candidate registering 47% support among likely voters. While the number of undecided voters is dwindling, the last few weeks have underscored the fact that debates have the potential to change the narrative.
Mr. Obama has argued that he followed through on his foreign-policy promises in 2008—ending the war in Iraq, putting new focus on the war in Afghanistan and restoring U.S. alliances around the world. He and Vice President Joe Biden have accused Mr. Romney of engaging in bluster and failing to lay out a clear vision for foreign relations.
Charlie Neibergall/Associated PressCutouts of President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney lay on the ground before the candidates' final debate Monday at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
A new Obama campaign ad released Monday focuses on some of those points, highlighting the end of the Iraq war and the president's plan to bring troops home from Afghanistan. The television spot suggests that Mr. Romney supports endless war, while Mr. Obama wants to invest in America.
Mr. Romney has argued that under Mr. Obama, Iran has moved closer to having nuclear-weapons capability, relations with Israel have suffered and the military has been threatened with huge budget cuts. The Republican nominee has said that he would emphasize peace through strength as president, pledging that allies wouldn't question the U.S. commitment to support them and that enemies who attack America wouldn't question U.S. resolve to defeat them.
Lynn University, venue for the final Presidential Debate, is hosting a pre-debate pool party to celebrate and keep students engaged. A debate-watching party will follow on the school's soccer field. Video by WSJ's Jeff Bush via #WorldStream.
"We can't afford four more years of President Obama leading from behind," said Gail Gitcho, Mr. Romney's communications director.
Foreign policy generally has been considered a strong suit for the president. While the president's approval ratings on foreign policy have slipped in many recent polls, the WSJ/NBC survey shows that Mr. Obama still leads, 46% to 38%, on the question of which candidate would be better at handling foreign policy.
Mr. Romney has sometimes struggled to specify how his approach on foreign policy would be different from the president's, and his trip abroad last summer was marred by missteps. But the Republican nominee has seized on the tough questions about the Obama administration's handling of the deadly attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, last month.
Both men prepared intensively for their final meeting. Mr. Obama spent the weekend at Camp David, the secluded presidential retreat in Maryland, with his top aides, including Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes. Prep sessions started each morning around 10, and mock debates didn't wrap up until about 10 each night.
Associated PressA worker adjusts the backdrop on stage in preparation for Monday's presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla.
Mr. Romney and a small coterie of advisers, including Sen. Rob Portman (R., Ohio), who stands in for the president in these sessions, spent the weekend at a hotel in Delray Beach, Fla.
During preparations for all the debates, the Romney team has worked to replicate even small details with dress rehearsals and extensive efforts to mimic the setup and conditions expected onstage. A campaign official noted that Peter Flaherty, the Romney adviser who was playing Mr. Schieffer, even donned "Schieffer-style purple socks and tie" during their sessions this weekend.
Mr. Obama met Monday morning for 45 minutes with his prep team at Camp David, Md., before flying to Florida. Aides said Mr. Obama was having a steak dinner. Mr. Romney was more conservative at lunchtime, opting for a veggie burger with Cajun fries and a vanilla shake.
Write to Colleen McCain Nelson at [email protected] and Carol E. Lee at [email protected]