Tuesday, March 11, 2008

The other election issue

Since September 11, foreign policy has been the overwhelming focus of many political discussions, including the 2008 Presidential election. What is the best way to deal with the Iraq situation? How strong is Al-Qaeda? Is there a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan? How strong can Obama be on foreign policy? Why did Hillary flip-flop on Iraq? While all of these issues will certainly play a role in the election, I think the economy may turn out to be the overriding factor in the election. With oil prices quickly approaching $110 a barrel, the inevitable drag on consumers via high energy prices will not be ignored. This emphasis on the economy could prove problematic for McCain. While he is no doubt strong on foreign policy, his economic resume is quite light. In fact, his hawkish foreign policy could like continue instability in the Middle East, ensuring oil prices stay high. McCain should quickly seek to develop complex economic strategies beyond stereotypical conservative slogans like free trade if he wants to win the election.

This article contributed:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/8942.html

No comments: