International Reaction To Mitt Romney's "Surge"

Reuters / Rick Wilking

Which Countries Are Freaking Out Most About Romney's Surge? -- Uri Friedman and J. Dana Stuster, Passport/Foreign Policy

With the U.S. presidential election now closer than ever, the press is brimming with speculation about whether Barack Obama, after turning in a lackluster performance in the first debate, can reverse Mitt Romney's momentum during his second outing tonight. And not just the U.S. media. News outlets from India to Israel are busy dissecting Obama's setback, Romney's comeback, and what the new state of play in the race means for their countries. Here's a snapshot of some of the most colorful coverage in recent days:

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My Comment: I live in Montreal, Canada .... and the public sentiment here is very simple .... Obama very good, Romney very bad. As for the media coverage .... it is even worse .... the coverage is universally negative on candidate Romney, and on President Obama it is either neutral or positive. But generally speaking .... interest in America's election outside the U.S. is not what it use to be. When Ronald Reagan ran for the Presidency in 1980 .... everyone  in Russia and Eastern Europe was following that election as best as we could because we all knew that if he was elected President he would set into motion events that would force the communists in eastern Europe to change .... and change they did. Today .... there is little if any coverage of America's Presidential race in Eastern Europe .... and public sentiment is generally one of not really caring. When I was in China last month .... coverage was passing at best .... the focus for the Chinese was (and still is) simply elsewhere (i.e. Japan, disputed islands, and the economy).

As to what is my own personal opinion (i.e. a Canadian viewpoint) .... I know that if President Obama is re-elected, my Canadian money will continue to appreciate and my U.S. currency will continue to devalue. We have no threats on our borders .... hence national security issues are not a concern. When slated tax increases come into effect at the beginning of 2013 for U.S. taxpayers .... I am confident that a US recession will be the result, and that hard times will continue for a good number of Americans. This will affect us .... but by how much I am not exactly sure. As to the impact of a Romney victory .... aside from (I hope) better economic management .... I see little if any substantive differences when compared to President Obama .... the economic picture is what it is .... the question that needs to be asked is how hard will the "hard times" be.