The conventional wisdom tells us that Barack Obama’s principal weakness as a presidential candidate is foreign policy and national security. Obama hasn’t spent a lot of time abroad; international affairs isn’t perceived as an area of his expertise; and he did not serve in the military.<\/p>\n
Obviously, then, Obama’s ongoing trip to the Middle East and Europe is designed to bolster the Democrat’s standing on the issue where he’s perceived to need the most help. And how’s it going so far? It’s hard to imagine it going much better<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Iraqi government on Monday left little doubt that it favors a withdrawal plan for American combat troops similar to what Senator Barack Obama has proposed, providing Mr. Obama with a potentially powerful political boost on a day he spent in Iraq working to fortify his credibility as a wartime leader.<\/p>\n After a day spent meeting Iraqi leaders and American military commanders, Mr. Obama seemed to have navigated one of the riskiest parts of a weeklong international trip without a noticeable hitch and to have gained a new opportunity to blunt attacks on his national security credentials by his Republican rival in the presidential race, Senator John McCain.<\/p>\n Whether by chance or by design, the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq chose a day when Mr. Obama was in the country to provide its clearest statement yet about its views on the withdrawal of American troops.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Even the Washington Post reported — in a stand-alone piece<\/a>, no less — that top Iraqi officials have “endorsed a timetable for U.S. withdrawal that is roughly similar to the one advocated by Obama.”<\/p>\n With that in mind, consider the context. Obama was well received by the troops in Kuwait, had a fruitful visit to Afghanistan, and as Slate’s Daniel Politi noted<\/a>, was widely received in Iraq “as a visiting head of state rather than a candidate.” And on top of that<\/i>, while Obama is in Iraq, Iraqi officials implicitly endorse Obama’s withdrawal policy.<\/p>\n Some of this is the result of a well-executed plan, and some of this is incredibly good fortune. Either way, it’s no wonder the McCain campaign is feeling a little antsy. If it comes off as the campaign hopes, with a steady flow of images of Obama looking thoughtful, diplomatic, and commanding on the world stage, the trip helps Obama address his key weakness, perhaps permanently. […]<\/p>\n [I]n the war zones where Obama might wear a protective helmet and flak jacket, there’s the danger that a wayward picture might make him look ill at ease, shades of Michael Dukakis taking his infamous tank ride.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
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\nBefore the trip began, John Dickerson speculated<\/a> about the importance of imagery.<\/p>\n