US elections: Mitt Romney already on the ropes ahead of debate with Barack Obama

Republican challenger Mitt Romney was preparing for his first debate against president Barack Obama last night, badly needing a podium victory today to turn the tide of polling five weeks before the 6 ­November US elections.

Mr Obama leads in many of the nine battleground states that will decide the result, and all but two of those permit early voting, meaning more people are already locking in their votes every day.

Mr Romney contends his top issue is strengthening the economy and creating jobs, top priorities for voters. But the former Massachusetts governor is also attacking Mr Obama on foreign policy after Muslim anger over an anti-Islam film made in the US sparked attacks on diplomatic missions, in the wake of an al-Qaeda linked assault in Libya, in which the US ambassador and three colleagues were killed.

“For four years, we’ve had a foreign policy led by a president who believes the strength of his personality is going to get people to do the right things. Well, we’ve seen fires burning in US embassies around the world,” Mr Romney said.

The Obama campaign called Mr Romney’s foreign policy stances “incoherent”.

Mr Romney, a multimillionaire, recently turned to subjects including wealth distribution as he has looked to gain ground.

He brought up immigration in an interview in Colorado yesterday, saying he would honour temporary work permits for young illegal immigrants who were allowed to stay in the US because of an executive order Mr Obama signed this year.

The candidates are battling for Colorado, where the Hispanic population could determine who wins the state. Mr Romney previously said he approved of “self-deportation,” where illegal workers would opt to return home. He also said he would veto legislation to provide a path to citizenship for young people who will benefit from Mr Obama’s order.

Mr Obama retreated to a desert resort in Nevada for three days of debate preparation. Top advisers are focused on helping him trim his responses. Equally important is coaching him to look calm and presidential during an expected onslaught of criticism from Mr Romney.

Mr Romney spent more than eight days in September holding mock debates and sparring with Senator Rob Portman, who stood in for Mr Obama. Mr Romney planned another day of preparation yesterday at his hotel in Colorado, the site of today’s debate, which will deal with domestic policies. But Mr Romney has been trying to force Mr Obama to answer for recent turmoil in places such as Libya.

The Obama campaign reacted dismissively, noting that Osama bin Laden is dead and pointing out the hard line taken to stop Iran gaining nuclear arms.

Mr Obama’s spokesman Jen Psaki said of Mr Romney: “[He] has been reckless, erratic and irresponsible on foreign policy issues every time he has had an opportunity to speak to [the American people].”