Two weeks from Election Day, America’s televisions were tuned into the last Presidential Debate. Battling it out at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney made a grand transition from their joking nature at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Dinner, to the serious and final debate topic; Foreign Policy.

 With a chance to gain the support of swing states, Governor Mitt Romney needed to exemplify potential as commander-in-chief. In contrast, President Obama had to take the chance to accentuate the positives marking his term while carefully addressing some recent and weighing foreign policy and economic issues.  A pre-debate poll supported by NBC News/The Wall Street Journal claimed a virtual dead heat with the two candidates each earning 47 percent among likely voters.

The evening’s topic was, in fact, foreign policy.  However, the debate proved to boomerang back and dabble in talk about the economy.

CBS News’ Moderator, Bob Schiefeer, opened the debate with the topic of Libya – a touchy and loaded subject that remains in forefront of the news today.

Romney won the toss, and therefore started the comments by reciting recent events in the Middle East.

“We can’t kill our way out of this mess,” he claimed. He continued, stressing the need for a straight forward effort to take out America’s enemies while playing a key role in the rejection of Muslim extremism through economic development, aid, education, and gender equality. Romney referred to a “rising tide of chaos” that has occurred during Obama’s term.

In these opening moments of the debate, the candidates did not hesitate to mix it up, each hitting their opponent with heated jabs.

Obama responded in turn with aggression, hammering Romney for his previous quotes that Russia was the most prominent threat to the United States.  He flatly stated, “Every time you’ve taken a position on foreign policy, you’ve been wrong,” in reference to  Romney’s positions on Iraq and Afghanistan, and his “outdated” economic policies that, according to Obama, “mirror those from the 1950s and even the 1920s.” Ultimately, Obama promoted his experience in foreign policy over the last four years. 

The President took the time to point out the fact that he ended the war in Iraq and that his time in office was focused on those who attacked the United States on 9/11. Obama indicated that his efforts were met by success with Al Qaeda and the demise of Osama Bin Laden.  The president’s goal: “to keep America secure.”

President Obama continued his point of view insisting on the need for strong steady leadership in which America’s position is clear to its allies and enemies.  He agreed with the Governor in the necessity to protect religious minorities, but he is more concerned about the “nation building at home” rather than overseas.

Turning over the topic to Syria and America’s aid to the country, Mitt Romney remarked about the “opportunity for us.” Syria could prove to be a valuable ally, and Romney’s ideal is to, without military involvement, aid in the involvement of organized political parties within Syria to take over that nation. America could use this opportunity to take its “leadership role” and provide aid and arms to “responsible parties.”

The President, however, was more hesitant in supplying rebels with arms as “these weapons can be turned back on us.” Rather, he is more inclined to pressure Bashar al-Assad’s banishment from office. “I am confident that Assad’s days are numbered,” he said.

The debate then rolled into the candidate’s opinions on Egypt – Obama expressed confidence in Cairo’s new government, and overall, claimed there is no lamentation for the deposed Hosni Mubarak.

Governor Romney, continuing with his views that it is America’s duty to provide strong leadership especially given the instability in the Middle East, tried to make a connection to the influence of a strong economy; a mention that led to attacks on Obama for the rising national debt and Pentagon budget cuts.

Stepping back from the Middle East and looking on a more global scale, Bob Schieffer supplied the politicians with the question, “What is America’s role in the world?”

Romney responded “to spread freedom,” another comment that opened up talk about the economy.

“America remains the indispensable nation,” Obama said in his response.  He resurfaced the facts that during his term he strengthened alliances that were earlier frayed or severed during George W. Bush’s presidency.

Obama commented on the economy, stating that money spent overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan is needed at home.  The candidates battled it out, Romney striking Obama on debt and little growth and Obama returning the blows by slamming Romney’s tax cuts, and ultimately attacking the Governor’s record in Massachusetts.

“The math simply doesn’t work,” Obama fired at Romney in regard to the Governor’s finance propositions of $5 trillon in tax cuts with no additional taxes or cuts certain programs to pay for it.

Despite Schieffer’s interjections such as, “Let me get back to foreign policy,” the debate continued over Pentagon budget cuts.

Once back on track about foreign policy, the sparring focused on Defense in Israel.

Obama openly stated, “I will stand with Israel if they are attacked,” while attacking Romney for his willingness to engage in “premature military action.”

Romney, however, retorted, “A military action is the last resort,” in his claim of support for Israel while adding that he would intervene in Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. The floor then opened to nuclear programs in Iran.

Confident in Iran’s consciousness about the situation, Obama questioned Romney’s experience on the issue and the claim that “the clock is ticking.”

Romney, however, cited that America currently conveys “weakness” in the eyes of Iran and their threatening position with nuclear ambitions should not be overlooked.

After an hour, the debate began to coalesce. with Romney keying on the problems in the Middle East, the unfair competition from and rapid acceleration of China, and many other global issues. He placed the blame for these challenges on the President’s shoulders, and continued to comment on the evidence of the poor economy.

Meanwhile, Obama brought attention to Romney’s shifting positions regarding the Middle East and his intended actions.  “You’ve been all over the map,” he told Romney.

With a turn to the troops in Afghanistan, both Obama and Romney were positive in their claims that troops will return by 2014. Romney was adamant that U.S. forces need support and help from the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The Governor touched on Pakistan’s possession of nuclear weapons, further supporting the need to stay involved with that nation.  Obama is more sure of the return of troops as America is in a position “to transition out” by 2014. “After a decade of war, it’s time to do some nation building here at home.”

The final focus of the debate was China.  Obama fought Romney’s assertions that the President was not active enough in the restraint of unfair Chinese practices.  He talked about his team’s involvement with the World Trade Organization dealing with unjust practices. He specifically included certain incidents which affected Ohio – a vital, swing-state that could be a key component to the outcome of this election.