Obama and Asia

The support in the United States for President Obama has fallen dramatically in the last six months. His job approval rate is now below 50 per cent and there is every indication that the Democrats will lose Senate and House seats in the November mid-term elections. This will spell trouble for the administration on domestic policy, but might very well strengthen Obama’s hand when it comes to foreign policy. In foreign policy he can get bi-partisan support for the strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan, for dealing with an assertive China, and to some extent, for the Iranian issue. But do not expect foreign policy to play a major role in the November election. “It’s the economy, stupid” all over again.