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Obama, Romney mostly lay off China-bashing in first debate
President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney were too busy attacking each other during their first presidential debate to take many potshots at China, one of the favorite targets for both parties.
Romney opened the debate, held in Denver, by saying he would boost the U.S. economy by increasing trade with Latin America and vowing to “crack down on China when they cheat.” Later, when discussing how he would bring down the deficit, he mentioned China when discussing which government programs are worth preserving.
“What things will I cut from spending?” he told moderator Jim Lehrer in one of the most memorable exchanges of the debate. “Well, first of all, I will eliminate all programs by this test, if they don't pass it: Is the program so critical that it's worth borrowing money from China to pay for it? And if not, I'll get rid of it.
China has played an important role in the campaign so far.
Romney has repeatedly attacked Obama for being weak on China and has vowed to label America's second-biggest trading partner a currency manipulator on his first day in office if he's elected. The Obama campaign has responded by challenging China's auto-export subsidies at the World Trade Organization and attacking Romney's former firm, Bain Capital, for investing in firms that outsourced production to China.
"Mitt Romney, tough on China? Since when?” asks one Obama ad released right before Wednesday's debate.
