be in a position to make judgments or recommendations to the candidate that should get a second thought. for example, when governor romney not too long ago said, you know, the russian federation is our number one geostrategic threat. well, come on, mitt -- think, that isn't is case. >> come on, mitt, think. mr. romney's sort of half-cocked remarks about russia being our number one geopolitical foe have been criticized by great effect by democrats, but have caused him a lot of trouble within his own party as well. it happened on this issue of russia. it also happened on the issue of china. you may remember mr. romney running up against the issue of the blind dissident in china who was ordered to remain under house arrest by the chinese government and who sought help from u.s. officials in china. while u.s. officials were engaged in intense and very delicate negotiations over chen's fate, mitt romney took to the campaign trail in order to attack the obama