Obama wins 3rd debate with Romney on foreign policy

U.S. President Barack Obama`s foreign policy experience has scored points with voters. The president is considered to have beaten Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in their final debate held at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida on Tuesday.

Based on his experience in national affairs as commander-in-chief of the U.S. military, Obama explained his foreign policy and attacked in detail Romney`s arguments. Romney is considered less experienced in international affairs.

Moderated by veteran CBS anchor Bob Schieffer, the debate proceeded with the two candidates seated at a table face-to-face in a departure from the previous two rounds. Both men waged a fierce battle on the democratic movements in the Middle East and North Africa, Iran`s nuclear development and Israel.

Certain U.S. media said Obama pushed Romney fiercely from the start as the latter did in the first debate. Others said the Republican was busy defending himself and eventually lost.

When the debate was over, the political journalism organization Politico said, "Obama takes Romney to school," and "Obama tears into Romney." The Washington Post called Obama the winner and Romney the loser. CNN said Romney criticized Obama on the Syrian civil war and Iran`s nuclear development, but a forum of experts on CNN backed Obama`s policy after the debate.

In a opinion poll jointly conducted by CNN and ORC International, 48 percent backed Obama and 40 percent Romney. A CBS survey also showed support of 53 percent for Obama and only 23 percent for Romney.

Obama blasted Romney`s comments on foreign policy as inconsistent and that the latter`s vision and policy had problems in clarity. Facing Romney, Obama said, "You haven`t been in a position to execute foreign policy. Every time you`ve offered an opinion, you`ve been wrong."

yhchoi65@donga.com