Projesct Syndicate
ASPEN – Public-opinion polls
in the United States indicate a close presidential election in November.
While President Barack Obama outpolls the Republican challenger, Mitt
Romney, on foreign policy, slow economic growth and high unemployment –
issues that are far more salient in US elections – favor Romney. And,
even on foreign policy, Obama’s critics complain that he has failed to
implement the transformational initiatives that he promised four years
ago. Are they right?
Obama
came to power when both the US and the world economy were in the midst
of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Indeed, some
of Obama’s economic advisers counseled him that unless urgent steps were
taken to stimulate the economy, there was a one-in-three chance of
entering a full-scale depression.
