Story highlights
President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney meet Monday night for their final debate
Monday's final showdown is to focus entirely on international affairs.
Middle East expert says Obama needs to be "defining the Middle East strategy going forward"
Romney faces the challenge of laying out specific policies without upsetting his base
Watch analysis and coverage of Monday’s third and final presidential debate beginning at 7 p.m. ET on CNN TV, CNN.com and via CNN’s apps for iPhone, iPad and Android. Clip and share your favorite debate moments on Facebook and Twitter, join the discussion on our live blog and get comprehensive coverage on our debates page.
(CNN) —
While foreign policy became an unexpected pivotal point in last week’s town-hall style presidential debate, Monday’s final showdown is to focus entirely on international affairs.
And with the U.S. government knee-deep in an investigation of its handling of the Benghazi consulate attacks and as reports emerge of planned negotiations with Iranian leaders, the topic could provide a pivot point in the tight race for the White House.
“I think it’s going to be an important debate,” senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod said Sunday, though he sought to lower expectations. “I don’t think any one event is decisive, even though being strong at home and building our economy is the No. 1 issue.”
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, order food at a Wendy's restuarant in Richmond Heights, Ohio, on Tuesday.
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Romney boards his campaign plane in Bedford, Massachusetts. The Romney camp has decided to continue campaigning on Election Day.
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President Barack Obama gets emotional at his final campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday, November 5, on the eve of the U.S. presidential election. Obama's speech included references to his 2008 campaign and his victory in the Iowa caucuses, which helped catapult his political career.
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The president and first lady Michelle Obama embrace Monday in Des Moines at his last campaign rally before the election.
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A young supporter listens to Obama at Monday's rally in Des Moines.
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Romney and his wife, Ann, greet supporters at a rally late Monday in Manchester, New Hampshire.
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Ann Romney wipes away tears during her husband's campaign rally Monday in Manchester.
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Romney reaches out to supporters Monday in Columbus, Ohio.
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A Romney fan shows her support at Monday's rally in Columbus.
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Obama, lower left, speaks during a campaign rally Monday in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Workers put up signs Monday for Romney's election night event in Boston.
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Obama is greeted by former President Bill Clinton during a campaign rally in Concord, New Hampshire, on Sunday, November 4. Obama and Romney darted from swing state to swing state, trying to fire up enthusiasm among supporters and win over any last wavering voters before Election Day.
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Romney meets some young supporters during a campaign rally at the Hy-Vee Center in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday.
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Romney arrives at Sunday's rally in Des Moines.
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Obama arrives at a campaign rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Saturday, November 3.
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Romney supporters attend a rally in Englewood, Colorado, on Saturday.
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Obama arrives at Cleveland Burke Lakefront Airport before an event in Mentor, Ohio, on Saturday.
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President Barack Obama departs aboard Marine One for travel to campaign events in Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Virginia from the south lawn of the White House on Saturday.
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Ann Romney offers pastries to journalists aboard GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's campaign plane at Portsmouth International Airport in Newington, New Hampshire, on Saturday.
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Supporters look on as Romney speaks during a campaign rally in Newington, New Hampshire, on Saturday.
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President Barack Obama embraces Judith Kamalay after she introduced him during a campaign rally Friday, November 2, in Hilliard, Ohio.
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney works aboard his campaign plane before takeoff Friday in Norfolk, Virginia.
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Romney gets ready to step off his campaign bus during an event Thursday, November 1, in Doswell, Virginia.
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Obama addresses a campaign rally Thursday at Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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U.S. Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney greets policemen who were part of his motorcade as he prepares to board his campaign plane in Roanoke, Virginia on Thursday.
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Supporters wait to hear President Obama during a campaign rally at Austin Straubel International Airport on Thursday.
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Mitt Romney holds a baby during a campaign event at Meadow Event Park on Thursday.
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President Obama speaks during a campaign rally at Austin Straubel International Airport.
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A Mitt Romney supporter holds an American flag during a campaign event at Meadow Event Park.
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President Barack Obama greets and comforts victims of Hurricane Sandy at a shelter in Brigantine, New Jersey, on Wednesday, October 31.
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney holds a campaign rally on Halloween at Metropolitan Park in Jacksonville, Florida, on Wednesday, October 31.
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President Barack Obama speaks about the federal government's response to Superstorm Sandy at the headquarters of the Red Cross in Washington on Tuesday, October 30.
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney accepts a food donation for storm victims at an event in Kettering, Ohio, on Tuesday.
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Supporters listen as Romney speaks at an event to collect food and supply donations for storm victims in Kettering, Ohio, Tuesday.
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Romney talks with advisers on his campaign bus while en route to a rally at Avon Lake High School on Monday, October 29, in Avon Lake, Ohio.
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Obama makes a statement in the White House briefing room following a briefing on Hurricane Sandy on Monday in Washington. Obama returned early from a campaign trip to Florida and has canceled several other campaign events to monitor the storm.
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Former President Bill Clinton speaks during a campaign rally with Vice President Joe Biden on Monday in Youngstown, Ohio. Obama had planned to attend the event but canceled to monitor Hurricane Sandy.
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Obama steps off Air Force One on Monday upon arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.
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People line up in the rain for a campaign rally with Clinton and Biden on Monday in Youngstown, Ohio.
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Democratic supporters listen during a campaign rally Monday with Clinton and Biden.
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Romney greets supporters during a campaign rally at Avon Lake High School on Monday in Avon Lake, Ohio. Romney canceled other campaign events planned for Monday and Tuesday due to Hurricane Sandy.
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A young girl looks on during a campaign rally for Romney at Avon Lake High School on Monday.
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Romney speaks during a campaign rally at Seven Cities Sod on Monday in Davenport, Iowa.
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Romney gets into his SUV after landing Monday in Vandalia, Ohio.
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Romney holds a giant cinnamon roll on Monday en route to Dayton, Ohio.
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A supporter of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan wears a campaign sticker on his shoe during a campaign rally at the Celina Fieldhouse in Celina, Ohio, on Sunday, October 28.
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Obama delivers remarks during a campaign rally at Elm Street Middle School in Nashua, New Hampshire on Saturday, October 27. With 10 days to go before the presidential election, Obama and his opponent, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, are criss-crossing the country from one swing state to the next in an attempt to sway voters.
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A young Romney supporter holds a homemade sign during a campaign rally at Ranger Jet Center on Saturday in Kissimmee, Florida.
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Obama speaks at a campaign rally in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Saturday.
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Romney emerges from his SUV at Akron-Canton Regional Airport on Saturday in Canton, Ohio.
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Romney and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, hold a campaign rally at Canton Hoover High School in North Canton, Ohio, on Friday, October 26.
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Obama chats with firefighters after dropping off doughnuts for them at a fire station in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday, October 25.
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Romney, center, poses for a photo with workers at First Watch Cafe on Thursday.
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Volunteers make phone calls seeking support for Romney at his Arlington Victory Center in Virginia.
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Obama kisses a baby during a campaign rally at Byrd Park in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday.
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Supporters take photos of Obama during a campaign rally at Ybor City Museum State Park in Tampa on Thursday.
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Supporters look on as Romney speaks during a campaign rally at Jet Machine in Cincinnati.
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Romney says goodbye to Ryan at Denver International airport on Wednesday, October 24.
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Supporters cheer as Obama speaks during a campaign event at Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday.
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The president speaks with residents during a lunch with a group of Obama for America volunteers at an unanounced stop at Antonella's Pizzeria in Davenport, Iowa, on Wednesday.
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Romney holds a campaign rally at the Reno Event Center in Nevada on Wednesday.
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Obama greets people at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado, Wednesday.
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Romney gestures to the crowd during a campaign event at the Reno Event Center in Reno, Nevada on Wednesday.
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Romney talks with his running mate Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin aboard their campaign plane on Tuesday, October 23, en route to Denver. A day after the final presidential debate, Romney is campaigning in Nevada and Colorado.
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President Obama holds a baby as he greets people during a campaign rally at the Delray Beach Tennis Center on Tuesday, October 23, in Delray Beach, Florida. Obama continues to campaign across the United States in the run-up to the November 6 presidential election.
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Obama and Romney hug their wives on stage after finishing their third and final presidential debate at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, on Monday, October 22.
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Romney and his wife, Ann, try to relax backstage with members of their family before the start of Monday's debate.
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Obama reads briefing material while meeting with advisers inside his cabin on Sunday, October 21, at Camp David, Maryland.
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Republican candidate Mitt Romney plays with his grandson while having dinner on Sunday in Delray Beach, Florida.
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Bartek Wawruch stands between cardboard cutouts of Obama and Romney at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, on Saturday, October 20, as the campus prepares for Monday's presidential debate.
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Romney boards his campaign plane at Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday, October 19.
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U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, on Friday.
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Romney speaks with campaign staff on board his campaign plane at Washington Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, on Thursday, October 18.
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Obama speaks during a rally at Veterans Memorial Park in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Thursday.
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Jack Bunn, 51, and Jane Cookson, 57, cast their votes at the Board of Elections early voting station in Wilson, North Carolina, on Thursday.
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Barack Obama and Jon Stewart speak during a break in the live taping of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on Thursday.
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Supporters of Mitt Romney attend a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Wednesday, October 17.
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Mitt Romney is seen backstage through a campaign flag as he waits to take the stage at a rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Wednesday.
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Supporters of Obama listen to him speak during a rally at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, on Wednesday.
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President Barack Obama arrives at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, for a campaign rally Wednesday.
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A group of men watch the presidential debate on television screens at an electronics store in Miami on Tuesday, October 16.
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney talks with aides aboard his campaign plane en route to Ronkonkoma, New York, on Tuesday.
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A worker cleans a sign for the Commission on Presidential Debates before the second presidential debate in Hempstead, New York, on Tuesday.
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Members of the production crew ready final preparations for the second presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney on Tuesday.
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First lady Michelle Obama greets supporters during a campaign rally at Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio, on Monday, October 15.
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Supporters of President Barack Obama cheer during the campaign rally at Ohio Wesleyan on Monday.
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Obama jokes about a telephone with campaign volunteers Alexa Kissinger, left, and Suzanne Stern as he makes calls from a campaign office in Williamsburg, Virginia, on Sunday, October 14.
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Dolls depicting Obama and Mitt Romney are on display at a gift shop at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport in Maryland on Sunday.
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Romney holds up a baby as he works the rope line after delivering remarks at a rally in Lebanon, Ohio, on Saturday, October 13.
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A supporter holds an American flag in front of the Ohio logo on his shirt as he stands with a crowd at Shawnee State University to hear Romney speak on Saturday.
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Mario Orosa, left, and Ron Cathey, right, chat with Obama during dinner at Smith Commons restaurant in Washington on Friday, October 12. Obama had dinner with contest winners who contributed to his re-election campaign.
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Romney, right, and GOP vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan greet supporters as they arrive at a rally in Lancaster, Ohio, on Friday.
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Students walk past a political mural near Centre College in downtown Danville, Kentucky, where Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice-presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan faced off Thursday, October 11.
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Ryan greets his son Sam after the debate in Danville, Kentucky, on Thursday.
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Romney, left, speaks with the Rev. Billy Graham during a visit to the Graham cabin in Montreat, North Carolina, on Thursday.
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Obama greets supporters at a campaign rally at the University of Miami on Thursday.
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Romney and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie talk with supporters at Buns Bakery and Restaurant in Delaware, Ohio, on Wednesday, October 10. Romney is campaigning in Ohio with less than a month to go before the general election.
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Christie, left, and Romney walk up to the stage at Ariel Corporation in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on Wednesday.
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Centre College students Ben Boone, left, a stand-in for U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and Tommy Munoz, a stand-in for Republican Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan, wave during a rehearsal for the vice presidential debate in Danville, Kentucky, on Wednesday.
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Members of the media watch as President Barack Obama arrives aboard Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on Tuesday, October 9, in Washington. The president was returning from a two-day campaign trip to California and Ohio.
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Obama addresses supporters during a campaign event at The Ohio State University on Tuesday.
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Two Obama supporters, one holding a Big Bird book and the other clutching a picture of the president, listen while he speaks at a rally at Ohio State on Tuesday.
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney departs a Wendy's restaurant with his dinner order in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on Tuesday.
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Supporters cheer as Romney delivers remarks on the James Koch Farm in Van Meter, Iowa, on Tuesday.
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Allan Banojakedjian, left, and Jesus Romero fill out their voter registration forms at the Miami-Dade Elections Department on the final day of registration for the upcoming presidential election.
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Rain doesn't keep Romney from campaigning in Newport News, Virginia, on Monday, October 8.
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Obama holds a campaign event Monday at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco.
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Obama takes the stage at a campaign concert at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, October 7. The president has been on a three-day trip to California and Ohio.
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Air Force One leaves a shadow as it passes over the Forum on approach to Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday.
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Obama leaves the White House on Sunday to board Air Force One.
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, greet workers at the Tin Fish restaurant following a rally Sunday in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
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Romney casts a shadow on a banner as he speaks during a campaign event in Apopka, Florida, on Saturday, October 6.
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A supporter holds a photograph of Romney in Apopka on Saturday.
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Jon Bon Jovi performs at an Obama for America event at the House of Blues in Las Vegas on Saturday. It was the last day people in Nevada could register to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
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Romney speaks during a campaign event in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Friday, October 5.
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Romney supporters listen during Friday's campaign event in St. Petersburg.
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Obama smiles as he speaks during a campaign rally in Fairfax, Virginia on Friday.
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Obama is assisted with putting on a raincoat onstage during a campaign rally at Cleveland State University on Friday.
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Romney speaks in Fishersville, Virginia, as Secret Service members keep guard on Thursday, October 4. A day after the first presidential debate in Denver, Romney headed to Virginia to continue campaigning.
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Romney supporters bow their heads in prayer during Thursday's event at the Augusta Expoland in Fishersville, Viriginia.
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Obama addresses the crowd at the University of Wisconsin in Madison on Thursday.
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Romney greets police officers before boarding his campaign plane in Denver on Thursday.
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Obama speaks at a campaign rally in Denver on Thursday. He accused his Republican challenger of dishonesty over tax policy and other issues brought up in Wednesday night's presidential debate.
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Audience members cheer as Obama makes his way onto the stage at Sloan's Lake Park in Denver on Thursday.
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Reporters watch the final minutes of the debate between Romney and Obama in Denver on Wednesday, October 3. The first of four debates for the 2012 election -- three presidential and one vice-presidential -- was moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS.
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A member of the U.S. Secret Service keeps watch from the top of a building as Obama takes part in a debate walk-through at the University of Denver on Wednesday.
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A seat is assigned to first lady Michelle Obama prior to Wednesday's debate.
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Obama stands at the podium as he speaks during the debate on Wednesday.
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Michelle and Barack Obama, left, join Mitt Romney and his family at the conclusion of the first presidential debate.
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University of Denver student Sam Garry sits at the moderator's desk before a presidential debate dress rehearsal at the University of Denver on Tuesday, October 2.
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Volunteers sit in for on-air television reporters on Tuesday in preparation for the first presidential debate in the Ritchie Center at the University of Denver.
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Romney greets a father and his daughter after having lunch Tuesday at a restaurant in Denver.
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Obama stares at the Hoover Dam in Nevada during a visit Tuesday.
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Romney boards his campaign plane in Bedford, Massachusetts, on Monday, October 1. The Republican candidate was heading to Denver for the first presidential debate on Wednesday.
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Obama hugs Chasstiry Vazquez after she indroduced him at a campaign event at Desert Pines High School in Las Vegas on Sunday, September 30.
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Obama supporters cheer during Sunday's event in Las Vegas.
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Romney leaves his campaign headquarters in Boston on Sunday.
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A boy reaches out to shake hands with Obama on Sunday in Las Vegas. The president was in Nevada ahead of Wednesday's presidential debate in Denver.
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Romney arrives at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Belmont to attend Sunday services.
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Obama talks on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in the Oval Office on Friday, September 28.
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Romney speaks during a rally at Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Pennsylvania on Friday.
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Romney talks to journalists aboard his campaign plane about his phone call with Netanyahu on Friday.
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Cadets listen to Romney speak at a campaign rally Friday at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne, Pennsylvania.
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Romney addresses Friday's rally at the Valley Forge Military Academy and College.
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Vice President Joe Biden hugs U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, as he arrives for a campaign event Friday in Boca Raton, Florida.
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Romney speaks at a Veterans for Romney campaign event in Springfield, Virginia, on Thursday, September 27.
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Obama supporters cheer at a campaign rally Thursday in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
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Veterans at the American Legion Post 176 pray before Romney speaks Thursday in Springfield.
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People listen to Obama speak at the Farm Bureau Live arena in Virginia Beach on Thursday.
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Obama delivers remarks Thursday in Virginia Beach.
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Supporters cheer as Romney speaks at SeaGate Convention Centre in Toledo, Ohio, on Wednesday, September 26.
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Romney speaks during a roundtable discussion on manufacturing at American Spring Wire in Bedford Heights, Ohio, on Wednesday.
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Supporters wait to see Obama on Wednesday at Toledo Express Airport in Bowling Green, Ohio. Air For One aborted an initial landing attempt in Ohio due to weather conditions.
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Obama addresses supporters at Bowling Green State University on Wednesday.
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Romney delivers remarks during a campaign rally Wednesday at Westerville South High School in Westerville, Ohio.
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Former President Bill Clinton introduces Obama during the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York on Tuesday, September 25.
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Supporters cheer during a Republican campaign rally Tuesday with Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, at Dayton International Airport in Vandalia, Ohio.
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Ryan speaks Tuesday in Vandalia as Sen. Rand Paul, from left, Sen. Rob Portman and Romney listen.
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Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush hugs a waitress as they wait for Ryan's arrival during a campaign stop at a restaurant in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood on Saturday, September 22.
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Supporters cheer as they listen to Romney speak during a Juntos Con Romney Rally at the Darwin Fuchs Pavilion on Wednesday, September 19, in Miami.
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Romney shakes hands with supporters during the Juntos Con Romney Rally in Miami on Wednesday.
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Obama and David Letterman speak during a break in the taping of the "Late Show with David Letterman" on Tuesday, September 18, at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.
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A crew member opens the door to Air Force One after the jet arrived at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York on Tuesday.
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From left to right: Romney, his wife Ann, and son Tagg watch one of Tagg's sons play soccer in Belmont, Massachusetts, on Saturday, September 15.
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Ryan arrives onstage to address the Family Research Council Action Values Voter Summit on Friday, September 14.
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Supporters wait for Romney to speak at a campaign rally at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, on Friday, September 14.
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Obama arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on Thursday, September 13. Obama returned to Washington after a two-day campaign trip with events in Nevada and Colorado.
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Supporters cheer as Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Fairfax, Virginia, on Thursday.
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An Obama supporter attends a rally in Las Vegas on Wednesday, September 12. Obama focused on economic policies during his two days of campaigning in Nevada and Colorado.
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Former President Bill Clinton speaks in support of Obama during a campaign stop in Miami on Tuesday, September 11.
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Obama is lifted up by Scott Van Duzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza and Pasta Italian Restaurant, during a visit to the restaurant in Fort Pierce, Florida, on Sunday, September 9. Obama was on a two-day bus tour across the state.
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President Obama greets supporters during a campaign stop at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.
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Mitt Romney walks through the garage area during a rain delay before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond International Raceway on Saturday, September 8, in Richmond, Virginia.
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Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, waves to the crowd before speaking at a rally in Leesburg, Virginia, on Friday, September 7.
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Supporters try to stay dry in between rain showers while waiting for President Obama to speak at the University of Iowa on Friday. It was Obama's first day of campaigning after accepting the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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A girl listens to President Obama speak at the University of Iowa on Friday.
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Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama, President Obama and Biden's wife, Jill, wave after Friday's campaign event at the University of Iowa.
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President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney meet for their third of three debates in Boca Raton, Florida, the biggest swing state prize with 29 electoral votes. It marks the closing note of the debate season, one that landed Romney a much-needed boost after his widely applauded performance – and Obama’s derided one – in the first debate. The second matchup was considered more of a draw, with Obama edging Romney in several polls of debate-watchers.
The debate will have some competition for viewership, as the event airs at the same time as two popular sporting events – Monday Night Football, this week featuring the Detroit Lions and the Chicago Bears, and the pivotal seventh game of baseball’s National League Championship Series, which will determine whether the St. Louis Cardinals or the San Francisco Giants advance to the World Series.
Political observers say incumbents usually have an advantage on foreign policy because of their experience making decisions for the country and access to some of the most privileged intelligence.
A Pew Research Poll that came before the second debate showed Obama ahead of Romney 47% to 43% when voters were asked which candidate they thought would handle foreign policy decisions better. That’s within the margin of error and is a much tighter poll than one taken by Pew in September, which showed Obama leading Romney 53% to 38%.
The Obama campaign has attempted to paint Romney as unprepared to handle issues on the world stage. Calling Romney “reckless,” Axelrod on Sunday hinted at one line of attack the president could take during Monday’s debate.
“We all remember his ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ tour of international destinations over the summer, where he not only roiled countries that are not as friendly to us but also our best ally, Britain.”
During a trip to the United Kingdom, Israel and Poland in July, Romney generated international criticism for his comments in London questioning Britain’s preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.
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That perceived gaffe was followed by what some said were inappropriate comments about Palestinians, questioning why Palestinian-controlled areas had a lower GDP per capita than Israel.
Romney also has faced criticism over his initial response to the Benghazi consulate attack, in which killed four Americans were killed, and the breaching of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo last month. He put out a statement the night of the unrest, then held a news conference to chastise Obama on foreign policy the next morning. Democrats and some Republicans argued the reaction was made in haste.
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, cited the incident as an example of Romney being unprepared to be a world leader.
“Gov. Romney just seems to be bluster, blunder, cowboy-alone foreign policy,” Richardson said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “I’m troubled at this time when we had the Benghazi crisis, he’s trying to make political gain.”
But questions have lingered over why the U.S. was unprepared for the attack on the consulate in Benghazi and the mixed signals that the White House sent over its cause.
In last week’s debate in Hempstead, New York, Obama took responsibility for the security of State Department personnel, saying ultimately the buck stops at his desk. “That’s why nobody’s more interested in finding out exactly what happened than I,” he said
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich pointed to Obama’s words and criticized the lack of robust security at the consulate, adding the whole episode represents a larger narrative of the president’s foreign policy track.
Intelligence on Benghazi shifted
“If we can’t figure out what went on in a relatively open city in a country we had helped liberate, why do we think we know what’s going on with Iran’s nuclear program?” the former Republican presidential candidate and speaker of the House said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Defending Romney, Gingrich said he had ample foreign policy experience from his time as Massachusetts governor, as well as his role in running the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and living overseas as a missionary.
Weighing in on the expectations for Monday’s debate, CNN contributor and New Yorker political reporter Ryan Lizza told CNN’s Athena Jones that while foreign policy is important, it’s not “what’s going to drive the vote.”
“So if you’re Mitt Romney, every second you’re talking about foreign policy is wasted. Which might mean that Romney tries to break out of that, tries to bring home some of the foreign policy issues to domestic economic issues. For instance, when you’re talking about China, that’s in some ways a domestic issue,” he said.
Lizza said Romney has a choice to make. He could try to attack Obama over the administration’s handling of the Benghazi attack, a strategy he took during last week’s debate but ended up making headlines over mixing up a detail in the timeline.
“Or does he just put that aside, put those attacks aside and try to move on to some other issues where he has more of an advantage?” Lizza said.
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As for the president’s challenge, Jon Alterman, director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Obama will need to be “defining the Middle East strategy going forward.”
“He’s had some successes, he’s had some things that are still pretty murky,” Alterman said.
Romney, on the other hand, has a broader challenge of laying out specific policies without upsetting the Republican base.
“The Republican Party hasn’t really figured out what a Republican foreign policy looks like after the Bush administration,” Alterman said. “I think Romney has been uneager to really delve into that, but I think the challenge he will have on issue after issue is you have to get more specific.”
Also developing on the international front, The New York Times reported Saturday cited an anonymous senior administration official saying the U.S. and Iran have agreed to take part in unprecedented, one-on-one talks over the country’s nuclear program. The White House denied the report was true.
Asked about Iran on Sunday, Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio used an argument often made by Romney, saying the president failed to back the 2009 protest movement in Iran that the country’s regime stifled with a violent crackdown.
“That set a tone where now Iran thinks they can go harder and faster than they could go. And today, they’re closer than they’ve ever been to a nuclear capability,” Rubio said on ABC’s “This Week.” “That’s very unfortunate.”
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But former White House chief of staff and current Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, also appearing on “This Week,” said that while he didn’t know whether the reports of talks with Iran were true, the “tables have been turned” by Obama’s approach.
“Three and a half years ago, the world was criticizing us on Iran. Today, the world is criticizing Iran on its attempts to acquire nuclear weapons. That’s a direct change,” he said.
CNN’s Greg Clary contributed to this report.