A Majority Does Not Trust Mitt Romney in a Crisis
Romney hopes to emulate Obama’s tour during the 2008 campaign, but it’s doubtful that the public will buy it. The focus, large crowds, and press attention aren’t there so far for Romney’s tour.
Yet all presidential challengers need to show that they can handle the duties of commander-in-chief. And in June, Romney trailed Obama by 13 points (50% to 37%) as the candidate better described by the phrase “would use good judgment in a crisis.” The question does not specifically ask about a foreign crisis, although many voters undoubtedly think of it in this context.
A majority does not trust Mitt Romney in a Crisis
In July 2008, McCain led Obama by nine points as the candidate more likely to use good judgment in a crisis. But he subsequently lost that advantage in late September, amid a domestic crisis - the Wall Street financial meltdown.Obama’s Trip in ‘08
In traveling abroad to burnish his foreign policy credentials for voters at home, Romney is taking a page from Obama’s playbook. Obama embarked on his own tour of Europe and the Middle East four years ago this week.
Obama’s trip attracted big crowds and enormous press coverage. During his week-long tour, 51% of all election news coverage was devoted to his trip, making it one of the most heavily covered events in the 2008 campaign. And 62% of the public said they heard about Obama’s trip; at that point in the campaign, the only development that attracted more interest was when Obama captured the Democratic nomination in June.