But there are complications.

Obama has shown himself willing to violate his promises on executive power, going so far as to take America to war in Libya without congressional approval. He's also inoculated himself against the charge that he won't act unilaterally to keep Americans safe: ordering the Bin Laden raid is a trump card he can play should the accusation arise. Finally, there is evidence that the United States is already covertly acting against Iran. And although it is classified the Obama Administration is prone to unlawful leaks when it finds it can get out politically useful information.

Regardless of how the campaign plays out, voters will be choosing in November between a Democrat and a Republican neither one of which would be likely to let Congress get in the way of launching a war they wanted to wage, regardless of what either one of them says on the subject.

Another part of the 2007 survey with potential to play a role in the campaign are the following questions:

"If Congress defines a specific interrogation technique as prohibited under all circumstances, does the president's authority as commander in chief ever permit him to instruct his subordinates to employ that technique despite the statute?"

"Under what circumstances, if any, is the president, when operating overseas as commander-in-chief, free to disregard international human rights treaties that the US Senate has ratified?"

Said Obama, "No. The President is not above the law, and the Commander-in-Chief power does not entitle him to use techniques that Congress has specifically banned as torture. We must send a message to the world that America is a nation of laws, and a nation that stands against torture. As President I will abide by statutory prohibitions, and have the Army Field Manual govern interrogation techniques for all United States Government personnel and contractors." And he did in fact end the torture that the Bush Administration illegally perpetrated.

Obama also stated, "It is illegal and unwise for the President to disregard international human rights treaties that have been ratified by the United States Senate, including and especially the Geneva Conventions. The Commander-in-Chief power does not allow the President to defy those treaties."

Romney's 2007 answers were very different. Rather than commit to the Army Field Manual, he stated that the president should keep secret both the sorts of interrogation techniques to be used and its opinion of whether Congress may validly limit them. As for human rights treaties, Romney stated that "The President must carry out all of his duties in a manner consistent with the rule of law, whether it is our Constitution or valid international agreements, so long as they do not impinge upon the President's constitutional authority." That's a murky caveat that renders all before it meaningless depending on one's notion of the president's constitutional authority.