Letters to the editor

Down to the wire

This refers to the editorial "Final countdown" (FE, October 24, 2012). Apart from the money and energy sapping exercises that the debates are, little new came out about the candidates and their policy stances on various key issues. The first debate was a sixer for Romney—Obama kept a low profile, for whatever reason. Obama regained his formidable self in the third and final debates. The final debate was a boring one—Romney almost dittoed Obama on almost all issues, except Iran, where he said his red line would be 'capability' for Iran to build a bomb, whereas Obama's red line was Iran actually building a bomb. On China, where Romney said he would name China a currency manipulator, Obama spelt out a more nuanced approach. Both concurred on the need to stay away from Syria, and on the strategy adopted vis-à-vis Arab spring. On social issues, Romney, though has stated that he would 'repeal and replace Obamacare', would leave the Planned Parenthood and Affordable Healthcare Act largely untouched. Romney is doubted by evangelicals because he is a Mormon; he was not trusted by businessmen because he enacted the same sort of healthcare reform that Obama has undertaken (on a national level), in Massachusetts as governor. He is not trusted by workers because he was a businessman millionaire ('vulture capitalist' according to the American hard left) who ran Bain Capital. Women doubt him because of his opposition to coverage of contraception and abortion by Obamacare. He is yet to spell out his position on same-sex marriage (though people have little doubt he would adopt a liberal position). Yet, he is there—cool, calm and composed—because he does not belong fully to any particular group; he belongs to all. Obama, in contrast, has a solid base. Workers are right behind him, women adore him and he endorsed gay marriage recently. Some businessmen, (surprise here) too, are with Obama. On the whole, though there is a wafer thin margin between the two, it is most likely that Mr Obama will win on 6 November 2012—mainly because of his economic ideology.

... contd.

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