The same day Mitt Romney’s foreign policy speech at the Virginia Military Institute, the Obama campaign rolled out a new TV ad knocking the Republican's leadership skills on the international stage.
The new TV ad, airing only in the swing state of Virginia, reminded viewers of the Romney’s "reckless" and "amateurish" trip visiting England, Israel and Poland in July. Romney, who ran the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City, angered many Brits after suggesting London wasn't fully prepared for the Games.
The ad criticized Romney for his "knee-jerk response" to the deadly protests in the Middle East. "If this is how he handles the world now just think what Mitt Romney might do as president," said the voice-over in the Obama ad.
In Romney’s short-on-specifics speech, the former Massachusetts governor accused Obama of being too soft on foreign policy rhetoric and too hasty withdrawing troops from Iraq."The president is fond of saying that, 'The tide of war is receding,''' Romney said. "And I want to believe him as much as anyone. But when we look at the Middle East today ... it is clear that the risk of conflict in the region is higher now than when the president took office.''
The second presidential debate on October 16 will include a portion on foreign policy.