Romney or Obama?

Lord (Michael) Bates: "British interests are in seeing continued economic recovery in the UK’s largest export market and to avoid being dragged into more costly (human and financial) military engagements. Romney may be slightly ahead of Obama in the first but behind in the second. In navigating the perilous global icebergs into clearer seas we need a ‘Steady as she goes’ hand on the tiller and Captain Obama scores here although Romney’s First Mate, Paul Ryan has also shown impressive political grip. A deciding factor  in favour of Obama would be what he represents for the American people—a triumph over prejudice and the embodiment of the American Dream. It will go down to the wire though."

Andrew Boff AM: "Republican economic policies are impressive in opposition and disappointing in government; maybe because they spend so much time having to pander to the prurient and chauvinistic appetites of their mid-West core vote or their latent protectionism. Obama speaks drivel but boy does he speak it well and is hardly a socialist. I don't want the Democrats to win, I just want the Republicans to lose-big time. Only then will the non-weird Republicans have the impetus to transform our slightly deranged cousins into a modern centre-right party which we can confidently call our ally."

Dominic Schofield: "It's a close one, but on balance hope it's Romney. Economically I suspect Romney 'gets' what needs to be done more readily than Obama. Overwhelmingly US business (large and small) has felt short-changed by the current administration and poverty and unemployment have gone up.  Romney's track record at Bain Capital and his record as Massachusets Governor all lend him greater credibility than Obama, and his promises to set about tackling the deficit are believable. The Romney/Ryan ticket stand for genuine fiscal conservatism - and America cannot continue spending and borrowing from the Chinese much further. On the international stage I believe he will combine pragmatism (a la George H W Bush) with the will and guts to stand up for American interests and Western truths. America's enemies (who are our enemies too by the way) will fear him in a way they won't fear a narrowly re-elected (and weakened) Obama administration."

Ryan Bourne: "Romney. Obama's stimulus and recover plan was supposed to generate growth of 4.6 per cent per year by now with 5.4% unemployment. Instead growth is 2% with unemployment at 8%. And many people have simply given up looking for work - real unemployment is much higher. No wonder Obama's economic advisors stopped tracking the stimulus costs when it hit $317,000 per job 'created'. But even if you think a Keynesian stimulus in 2009 was right, Obama's still shown no leadership on the longer term fiscal challenges. $6 trillion will be added to the debt under his watch. He set a Commission to look at fiscal sustainability and tax reform on a bi-partisan level, but was unable to bring forward any of its recommendations despite widespread support for much of it - a lack of leadership which we've seen during the debt ceiling crisis and with the looming fiscal cliff for 2013. Mitt Romney at least seems to understand an economy run with more government will be inefficient and stifle competition and innovation. Plus, he has a good record as a businessman, public official and as a politician working with a Democrat legislature in Massachusetts."

Mohammed Amin: "If I were an American, I would vote for Obama. He inherited a terrible economic mess and has faced enormous Republican hostility in Congress. Even in the first two years, the filibuster rules in the Senate allowed many of proposals to be blocked. Despite all that, he managed to get healthcare reform through Congress, get the stimulus package through despite it not being a big as he would have liked, and repaired America’s image in the world. In a second term he can do much more, especially in the Middle East."

Luke Bozier: "If Obama would commit to seriously reforming the American corporate tax system for small businesses, and reducing the red tape on entrepreneurs, I'd say Obama. Because that would be a Clinton-esque move which would boost growth and let American entrepreneurialism
loose. However, he has been very coy about what exactly he would do. Romney on the other hand has been more specific; he gets that the tax and red tape burden on American entrepreneurs - much bigger than it is in neighbouring Canada or even in Britain (where we have one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the G20) - hurts everyone, by keeping growth slow and job creation even slower."

Spencer Pitfield: "On the back of the UK achieving 1% GDP growth for the last quarter I have no doubt that in this global world a Republican Presidency is my hugely preferred outcome. A Romney victory would strengthen American growth and as such help boost growth here in the UK and across the world. Global growth will drive-forward prosperity for nation states and help pull Britain firmly out of the worst recession since the 1930s."

John Bald: "Romney doesn't understand the need to pay for spending with taxes,  and doesn't see that some of Obama's actions, particularly on the auto industry, were needed to prevent a slump.  However,  his gaffes and lack of general knowledge don't seem to be holding him back, and I don't think he's dangerous to us.  Obama's healthcare legislation has bucked the US constitution, which may cost him. He is mildly hostile to British interests - he wouldn't start another Falklands war, but wouldn't mind much if someone else did. A lot of Black British people expected much of him, and will hurt if he loses. I never expected anything and, for once, don't much care who wins."

Murdo Fraser MSP: "On very few levels can Romney be viewed as a strong Presidential candidate for the Republicans. Whilst I would still expect Obama to win, the fact that the polls are so close indicates what a poor President he has been. After all the hope and expectation following his election he has been a huge disappointment, failing to tackle the issues that matter to ordinary Americans. Obama may win, but he doesn't deserve to."

> Recent International post: 43% of Tories would vote for Romney and 23% would support Obama.