Mediaboss Marketing

For a handful of U.S. Republican governors gathering this weekend in Washington, D.C., for the winter meeting of the National Governors Association, emerging as a solid presidential contender is a top priority. They are using the bipartisan policy meeting to break from the crowded field of supposed White House hopefuls and establish credentials on a topic that state executives are widely seen to lack: national security.

With campaign donors and political strategists roaming the halls and rooms at the meeting venue, Govs. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, Chris Christie of New Jersey, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Mike Pence of Ohio are expected to participate in a handful of panels on domestic issues, including economic growth, development, education and labor. But as a number of terror-related crises rage in the Middle East, Ukraine and North Africa, the governors can use private conversations in the hallways anda Sunday roundtable on homeland security to sell their positions on national security.

Establishing national security credentials ahead of the next presidential-campaign cycle is more important this year and also more complicated, said John Weingart, director of the Center on the American Governor in the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Theres more to learn, he said. Its not about just getting briefed about the Middle East, or Iraq, or Latin America; there are so many parts of the world where there are visible conflicts and questions about what the United States role should be.

No matter who comes out on top and goes on to win the partys nomination, they will potentially face down Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton, who, during her four years as the U.S. Secretary of State, logged more than 950,000 air miles and visited 112 countries as the nations foreign policy official. Republican hopefuls will likely seek to minimize her experience by linking her to President Barack Obamas unpopular foreign policy record.A CNN/ORC poll released Tuesdayfound that 57 percent of Americans disapproved of Obamas handling of the fight against ISIS and 54 disapproved as his handling of terrorism overall.

Michael OHanlon, co-director with the Center for 21st Century Security and intelligence at the conservative Brookings Institution, a Washington-based policy think-tank,said Clinton shouldnt rest on her laurels to edge out the Republican challenger. She has to have good ideas, not just a good resume, he said.

With Obama tanking in the polls, Republican White House hopefuls are eager to stand out by touting themselves as strong on national security. Walker recentlytold CNBCs Squawk Box television program that the threat assessments he receives as governor worry him. "Whether it's special ops or other engagements out there, we've got to be prepared to do what it takes to keep America safe," Walker said.

Christie took a similar tack, but he aimed his remarks at the president. You see the president taking bows, saying he has terrorism on the run, yet ISIS is beheading people and burning foreign soldiers alive," said Christie, the chair of the Republican Governors Association, at an event in the early-voting primary state of Iowa earlier this month.

Jindal also hasn't shied away from any opportunity to slam Obama. "The president refuses to own up to the challenges we face. He is letting this threat fester and its metastasizing by the day, Jindal said earlier this month.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has been seen courting support for a presidential run, gave a speech Wednesday to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs in which he expressed his views on Americas role in the world, according to an NBC News report. He said the U.S. needs a plan to address the threats by ISIS, al Qaeda, Boko Haram and the Taliban. "Everywhere you look, you see the world slipping out of control," Bush said.

All but one of the last five presidents have been state governors. But some Washington insiders have challenged the notion that the best nominee is someone with gubernatorial experience.

View post:
National Governors Association Meeting: National Security Dominant Topic For Republican White House Hopefuls