DENVER- The U.S. presidential race has sparked intense interest abroad; so much so, that a recent Pew poll found majorities of citizens in several countries are watching the contest closely. But the nature of that interest differs from place to place. Some nations feel they have something at stake and are therefore watching certain issues, while others are simply intrigued by the spectacle of the drawn out electoral process. In a new interview, CFR.org asks foreign reporters at the DNC to discuss the issues that matter most to their readers back home.

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“The stark truth is that America is not currently winning against Iran, and cannot win unless there is more Western unity behind an effective policy, rather than behind empty rhetoric and weak sanctions. The great challenge facing any presidential candidate is to show how he or she will galvanize Western strength and unity to achieve victory in the war against totalitarian Islamism.”

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“India is now too big a player on the global stage to be ignored by any US administration; likewise, the consolidation of India’s economic and strategic power at a global level would require any Indian government to be on very good terms with the US. Nevertheless, personalities matter when it comes to leadership of the world’s most powerful nation. We’ll await the outcome of the current contest with baited breath.”

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“I understand all the protectionist pressures in the U.S. On the other hand, I think it would be extremely unfortunate if people bolt themselves in positions that become difficult to extract themselves from, because the reality in the world is that we’re going to have to open up world trade, not close it down.”

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“If Obama can make a difference, it is not because of his policy choices, but because of what he is. The very moment he appears on the world’s television screens, victorious and smiling, America’s image and soft power would experience something like a Copernican revolution.”

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“The apparent skepticism about a Doha world trade deal that Mrs. Clinton expressed in the Financial Times this week, and her suggestion that there is a need to shelter American companies and interests from foreign investment, are a disappointing sign of the times.”

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“It is my duty to call respectfully but firmly on the candidates of the political parties in the U.S. to stop taking Mexicans as symbolic hostages in their speeches and strategies.”

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