The Candidates and The World

Transition 2012

A guide to foreign policy and the 2012 U.S. presidential transition.

Midday Update: Romney’s Remarks on FEMA Discussed

by Newsteam Staff Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Photo of the Day: GOP nominee Mitt Romney accepts relief supplies for people affected by Hurricane Sandy October 30, 2012. (Brian Snyder/Courtesy Reuters) Photo of the Day: GOP nominee Mitt Romney accepts relief supplies for people affected by Hurricane Sandy October 30, 2012. (Brian Snyder/Courtesy Reuters)

Hurricane Sandy has prompted new discussion of comments presidential candidate Mitt Romney made during a GOP debate last year, in which he “seemed to indicate that he wanted to cut or even privatize the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” reports Businessweek. Read more »

Views From Abroad: China and a Roundup of Debate Opinions

by Newsteam Staff Monday, October 29, 2012
Shaolin martial arts students perform in the opening ceremony of the 9th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival in Zhengzhou October 21, 2012. (China Daily/Courtesy Reuters) Shaolin martial arts students perform in the opening ceremony of the 9th Zhengzhou International Shaolin Wushu Festival in Zhengzhou October 21, 2012. (China Daily/Courtesy Reuters)

In this week’s Views, we head to China, where Wu Qianli writes for Caixin Media about what he sees as a lack of attention given to Asian-Americans by both President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney: Read more »

Midday Update: Romney to Give Economy Speech

by Newsteam Staff Friday, October 26, 2012
Photo of the Day: President Obama receives assistance from a poll worker as he casts his vote early October 25, 2012. (Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters) Photo of the Day: President Obama receives assistance from a poll worker as he casts his vote early October 25, 2012. (Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters)

GOP nominee Mitt Romney will give a major economic speech today in Iowa to more fully lay out what he sees as the choice American voters face (WaPo). Read more »

Midday Update: Obama Says Budget Grand Bargain Possible

by Newsteam Staff Thursday, October 25, 2012
Photo of the Day: Audience members listen as GOP nominee Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally October 24, 2012. (Brian Snyder/Courtesy Reuters) Photo of the Day: Audience members listen as GOP nominee Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally October 24, 2012. (Brian Snyder/Courtesy Reuters)

In an interview with the Des Moines Register editorial board made public yesterday, President Obama said that if elected, a budget deal similar to last year’s “grand bargain” will be passed to avoid the fiscal cliff (NBC). Read more »

Midday Update: Romney Courts Coal Voters

by Newsteam Staff Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Photo of the Day: A young girl listens as President Obama speaks during a campaign rally October 23, 2012. (Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters) Photo of the Day: A young girl listens as President Obama speaks during a campaign rally October 23, 2012. (Kevin Lamarque/Courtesy Reuters)

GOP nominee Mitt Romney has been using support of the coal industry to try and woo voters in coal-producing swing states (USAToday) that have been vocal opponents of the Obama administration’s clean energy policies. Read more »

What They’re Saying: Education and National Security

by Newsteam Staff Wednesday, October 24, 2012
High school students attach an aileron to a 41-foot surface-to-air Nike Hercules missile as students restore it at the George T. Baker Aviation school in Miami October 10, 2012. (Joe Skipper/Courtesy Reuters) High school students attach an aileron to a 41-foot surface-to-air Nike Hercules missile as students restore it at the George T. Baker Aviation school in Miami October 10, 2012. (Joe Skipper/Courtesy Reuters)
On Education:

In the Huffington Post, education advocate Brian C. Mitchell criticizes President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney for behaving like candidates rather than leaders on education: Read more »

Midday Update: Foreign Policy’s Domestic Moment

by Newsteam Staff Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Photo of the Day: A security officer stands outside the debate hall prior to the final U.S. presidential debate October 22, 2012. (Scott Audette/Courtesy Reuters) Photo of the Day: A security officer stands outside the debate hall prior to the final U.S. presidential debate October 22, 2012. (Scott Audette/Courtesy Reuters)

President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney debated foreign policy last night. CFR President Richard N. Haass writes that it wasn’t really about foreign policy and it wasn’t really a debate: Read more »

Debate Three: Candidates Take on Foreign Policy, Economy

by Newsteam Staff Tuesday, October 23, 2012
GOP nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama during the final U.S. presidential debate October 22, 2012. (Jason Reed/Courtesy Reuters) GOP nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama during the final U.S. presidential debate October 22, 2012. (Jason Reed/Courtesy Reuters)

President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney debated foreign policy last night, agreeing with each other on several major issues (NPR) including the use of drones in Pakistan and how to deal with the conflict in Syria, as well as relating many of the topics back to domestic and economic themes. Read more »

Views From Abroad: Africans Blog About U.S. Elections

by Newsteam Staff Monday, October 22, 2012
A truck driver prepares for evening prayers as trucks queue up at a border crossing in Noe, Ivory Coast September 24, 2012. (Thierry Gouegnon/Courtesy Reuters) A truck driver prepares for evening prayers as trucks queue up at a border crossing in Noe, Ivory Coast September 24, 2012. (Thierry Gouegnon/Courtesy Reuters)

In this week’s Views, we head to the Ivory Coast, where Venance Konan writes for Le Temps that Africans from several countries have mixed reviews of President Obama. Read more »

Midday Update: Candidates to Debate Foreign Policy Tonight

by Newsteam Staff Monday, October 22, 2012
Photo of the Day: Supporters of GOP nominee Mitt Romney cheer at a campaign rally in Daytona Beach, Florida October 19, 2012. (Jim Young/Courtesy Reuters) Photo of the Day: Supporters of GOP nominee Mitt Romney cheer at a campaign rally in Daytona Beach, Florida October 19, 2012. (Jim Young/Courtesy Reuters)

President Obama and GOP nominee Mitt Romney meet for their third and final debate tonight, which will focus on foreign policy topics (NYT). Read more »