US President Barack Obama pointed Monday to promises he made as a candidate to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and to go after terrorist network al-Qaeda, as he defended his foreign policy record.
"Because we're leading around the world, people have a new attitude toward America. There's more confidence in our leadership," Obama told a veterans convention in Nevada, dpa reported.
Republican challenger Mitt Romney is due to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars gathering Tuesday as the candidates push foreign policy to the forefront of the presidential election with Romney headed on an international trip later this week.
Obama said he has not just words, but a record to run on and touted the end of the Iraq war, a timetable for the end of US combat in Afghanistan and international sanctions efforts against Iran's nuclear programme.
"So, four years ago, I made you a promise. I pledged to take the fight to our enemies and renew our leadership in the world. As president, that's what I've done," he said. "As you reflect on recent years, as we look ahead to the challenges we face as a nation and the leadership that's required, you don't just have my words, you have my deeds. You have my track record. You have the promises I've made and the promises that I've kept."
The Romney campaign hit back at Obama, saying he had done little to increase US influence and pointing to planned military spending cuts.
"In no region of the world is our country's influence any stronger than it was four years ago," Romney spokesman Ryan Williams said. "President Obama has failed to restore our economy, is weakening our military with devastating defense cuts and has diminished our moral authority."
Тhe Obama campaign earlier said Romney needs to go beyond generalities and offer specific policy proposals as he leaves this week for Britain, Israel and Poland.
"Mitt Romney owes it to the American people to say where he stands on these important issues as he's trying out to be leader of the free world," Obama campaign advisor Robert Gibbs told reporters.