Clinton fails to impress local Dems on foreign policy

Scott Goss | The News Journal

National security and international relations were at the center of Saturday’s Democratic presidential debate, which came just 24 hours after a series of deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.

The debate in Iowa initially was planned to focus on the economy, but CBS News shifted gears in the wake of Friday’s attacks that killed 129 and left 352 others wounded.

A heavy dose of foreign policy questions was expected to benefit former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, the only Democratic candidate with national security experience.

While the debate was still ongoing, local Democrats said they were more impressed with Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley.

“Hilary obviously has the most experience,” said Kyle Offenbencher, a Sanders supporter. “But this gives the other two candidates a chance to show off their positions, and I think they’re both doing very well.”

A senior political science major at University of Delaware, Offenbencher watched the debate at Stone Balloon Ale House in Newark with his fellow College Democrats.

“I think Bernie’s vote against the Iraq War and Hilary’s support could be a fault line for voters so I’m hoping that comes up,” he said. “But, honestly, I’m more interested in going back to economic issues, where I think he’s strongest.”

Offenbencher is not alone.

In a recent CBS News/New York Times poll, just 4 percent of Democratic primary voters said foreign policy and the Middle East would issues that will determine how they vote, compared with 40 percent who identified the economy and 21 percent who cited social issues.

Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, who also watched the debate at Stone Balloon Ale House, said he was disappointed by Clinton's performance.

"I think she's making excuses and trying to justify past missteps going back two generations," he said. "We can no longer disregard that we destroyed and created vacuums in some of these countries, and now we have to look for a way out."

A fellow Sanders supporter, Kowalko said he was impressed Saturday with O'Malley performance.

"He mentioned that we can't just impose democracy on some of these countries without thinking about their ability to handle it," he said. "We can't just drop it into someone's lap and expect them to pick it up and run with it."

Saturday's debate came just a day after three teams of Islamic State terrorists carried out a series of coordinated suicide missions across Paris, including a suicide bombing outside a soccer stadium and hostage standoff in a concert hall, where 89 people were shot to death.

France declared a state of emergency, increased border controls and heightened police powers in the hours following the deadliest attacks in the country since World War II.

ISIS, or ISIL, issued a statement Saturday taking credit for the Paris attacks, which the group called “the first of the storm.” The Islamic State said the attacks were in response to airstrikes against its fighters in Syria. The group also released a video Saturday urging Muslims unable to wage holy war in Syria to carry out attacks in France.

French President Francois Hollande vowed a “merciless” response to the slaughter after ISIS claimed responsibility.

Drew Serres, a Delaware organizer for the liberal group Americans for Democratic Action, said he sees parallels between international security issues and crime closer to home.

"Whether its military action overseas or filling up prisons here," he said, "without good jobs and a well-funded education system, you're going to have destabilized communities. Focusing on those issues is the best way to increase safety, no matter whether you're talking about Syria or Wilmington."

Contact business reporter Scott Goss at (302) 324-2281, sgoss@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @ScottGossDel.