Focus on foreign policy in Sat. debate

By NBC News' Ali Weinberg

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Tonight?s debate here will be the first forum in which candidates talk about foreign policy for more than a few minutes. ?And since none of them have run away with the vote in this crucial primary state yet, they will probably all want to address the foreign policy issues most pertinent to South Carolina voters and lawmakers.

Here?s a list of some of the policy issues that might perk up South Carolinian ears listening to tonight?s debate.

Nuclear waste

Between its seven commercial nuclear reactors and the giant Savannah River Site, a former nuclear weapons plant, South Carolina is home to millions of pounds of radioactive waste that was destined for the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear repository, before the Obama administration?s decision to halt work on the Nevada site.

While most candidates at the debate in Las Vegas last month said they opposed the repository, that position doesn?t sit well with South Carolina voters.

South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson penned an op-ed last week saying he was ?startled to hear candidates jump at the opportunity to agree with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on shutting down the nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain? in the Oct. 18th debate.

Trans-Canada pipeline

Wilson and his colleague, Rep. Jeff Duncan, have also been vocal in opposing the Obama administration?s delay of a decision on the Keystone XL project, a 1,700-mile oil pipeline that would carry Canadian crude from Alberta to the U.S.

The two congressmen are circulating an open letter to the candidates today urging them to support the Keystone project: ?South Carolina voters want a President armed with a real energy plan that will grow our economy and make us energy independent by expanding our access to all forms of energy.?

This issue is also of particular importance to one influential member of South Carolina?s political class: David Wilkins, the former ambassador to Canada under president George W. Bush, who is a Perry supporter.

Wilkins called the U.S. decision to delay approval of the project ?catastrophic,? yesterday according to CBC News in Canada. "It?s the longest permitting process in the history of the world, I think. It sends a bad message that we?re not open for business,? Wilkins said.

Immigration

Illegal immigration is particularly resonant with voters in the Palmetto State, which recently passed a stringent law similar to that passed in Arizona last year. Texas Gov. Rick Perry may have an especially big challenge tonight, given his support of the DREAM Act in Texas and his statement in September (which he subsequently recanted) that those who don?t support it ?don?t have a heart.?

A federal court is challenging parts of South Carolina?s law, including its requirement for police to check immigration status whenever there is ?reasonable suspicion? that someone is in the country illegally.

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley defended the law last month, saying through a spokesman, ?If the feds were doing their job, we wouldn't have had to address illegal immigration reform at the state level. But, until they do, we're going to keep fighting in South Carolina to be able to enforce our laws."

Foreign investment in America?

Several large international corporations are headquartered in South Carolina, including BMW and Michelin. Haley has made courting other foreign companies a centerpiece of her administration, heralding each new business deal with a jubilant press release or other pageantry.

In fact, she held a press conference on Oct. 6th to announce the decision of German-based tire company Continental to build a new plant in South Carolina. She did catch flack though earlier this year for an economic development trip to France and Germany that featured five-star accommodations and a lavish ?chalet? at the International Paris Air Show.

Because of South Carolina?s focus on bringing foreign companies here, look for Republican candidates to be asked how they would encourage investment here, both from foreign business and from American companies based abroad.

Defense funding

South Carolina is also a military hub, so look for candidates to emphasize their opposition to defense cuts as well as the ?triggers? built into the deficit super committee?s negotiations that would cut between $500 and $600 billion in the defense budget.

Source: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/12/8772511-focus-on-foreign-policy-in-sat-gop-debate

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