Mitt backer Bolton dings Paul on foreign policy

John Bolton, the recent Mitt Romney backer who said Friday that President Barack Obama doesn't deserve credit he's getting for taking out Osama bin Laden, offered equal parts praise and criticism of Ron Paul in a WABC radio interview airing later today.

"I want to say unequivocally that although Ron Paul appeals to a lot of Americans on domestic issues, for very good reason, in my opinion — he’s strong against the size of the federal government; he’s strong for reducing taxes and reducing regulation — and I think people who vote for him are doing it on the basis of his domestic views," Bolton said on Aaron Klein's WABC radio show, in an interview that can be heard here later.

But, he added, "I really don’t think they have any real comprehension or understanding of his foreign policy views. It’s just not that much of a priority for him."

Romney has largely laid off of Paul, who has a strong following and is poised, even at this early date at which few delegates have been awarded, to be the candidate who gets the second most delegates by the time the convention rolls around. Save for saying that Paul won't be the nominee, Romney has said little about him.

But given Bolton's foreign policy specialty, it's hard to see how he won't take on Paul on issues like Iran, where much of the establishment has sounded an alarm bell about his views.

Bolton also said he hopes to campaign for Romney in the next few days in South Carolina.

On the Romney endorsement, Bolton told me: "It’s a decision that I thought very long and hard over. I think it’s critical that we have the strongest possible Republican nominee against Obama in November. It’s critical for this country that we get a real president in the White House. And I think Romney is the one."

Maggie Haberman is senior political reporter for Politico.