Taking the podium at the United Nations six weeks before the presidential election, President Barack Obama sought to counter criticism of his foreign record by Republican rival Mitt Romney, who has accused him of mishandling the Arab Spring uprisings, damaging ties with Israel and not being tough enough on Iran.

   Shortly before Obama took the podium at the UN, Romney spoke the Clinton Global Initiative in New York. Introduced by Bill Clinton, and facing a room filled with Democrats, Romney pulled his punches.

   “If there’s one thing we’ve learned this election season, it’s that a few words from Bill Clinton can do a man a lot of good. After that introduction, I guess all I have to do is wait a day or two for the bounce,” Romney said.