Jobs, debt, health care ... Hugo Chavez.
Republican challenger Mitt Romney jumped on Obama for saying this week that Chavez, the dictator of Venezuela, does not pose a serious threat to U.S. national security.
"It is disturbing to see him downplaying the threat posed to U.S. interests by a regime that openly wishes us ill," Romney said in a statement. "President Obama's remarks continue a pattern of weakness in his foreign policy, one that has emboldened adversaries and diminished U.S. influence."
Romney surrogates -- including Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. -- also criticized Obama, noting Chavez's dealings with the anti-U.S. government of Iran.
Obama's campaign fired back, saying that the president's policy has marginalized Chavez in the Latin world. Romney "is only playing into the hands of Chavez by acting like he's ten feet tall," said Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt.
"It's baffling that Mitt Romney is so scared of a leader like Chavez whose power is fading, while Romney continues to remain silent about how to confront al Qaeda or how to bring our troops home from Afghanistan," LaBolt said.
The Chavez issue -- as well as the Castro issue in Cuba -- is a big issue in South Florida, particularly among the Hispanic communities.
Here's what Obama said about Chavez to a Miami television station in an interview this week:
"We're always concerned about Iran engaging in destabilizing activity around the globe. But overall, my sense is that what Mr. Chavez has done over the last several years has not had a serious national security impact on us.
We have to vigilant. My main concern when it comes to Venezuela is having the Venezuelan people have a voice in their affairs and that you end up ultimately having fair and free elections, which we don't always see."
