ALL OUT FOR ROMNEY: Republican Senator John McCain rallies supporters of Gov Mitt Romney in crucial state Ohio

OHIO, US - U.S. Republican Senator John McCain tells Rappler reporter Carmela Fonbuena that the US-PH relations will be stronger if Mitt Romney wins the presidential polls. But senior American journalists have doubts considering Romney's long history as a businessman. Watch the report:

Republican Senator John McCain sees stronger military ties between Washington and Manila under a Mitt Romney presidency, particularly toward efforts to curb the aggressiveness of China in West Philippine Sea.

SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN, REPUBLICAN

The people of the Philippines can count on a strengthening of our relationship and the bonds between our two countries. We are looking at a rising China. We are looking at a China that is sparking confrontaton in the region, including with the government of the Philippines. Mitt Romney understands that. He understands the need of a strong and large American Navy and naval presence there.

But senior American journalists closely watching Romney's political career have doubts that a Romney presidency will adopt a different policy on the sea dispute.

BILL NICHOLS, POLITICO MANAGING EDITOR

At the end of the day, I think the economic relationship with Beijing is so important that American Presidents are very much boxed in on what they can do on human rights or on issues like the island disputes you talk of.

RON ELVING, NPR WASHINGTON EDITOR

He is a lifelong businessman. He sees the word very much in business terms…. That may not be necessarily be good news for the Philippines

The presidential race between President Barack Obama and Romney is turning out to be a dead heat coming into the final weekend.
McCain is counting on the Filipino-American voters to support Romney on November 6.

Carmela Fonbuena, Rappler Ohio. - Rappler.com

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