By Arthur I. Cyr

Now that Mitt Romney has wrapped up the Republican nomination, foreign policy and national security are likely to get a more intense focus in the presidential contest.

Both Romney and President Barack Obama took the opportunity over Memorial Day weekend to address defense policy concerns.

Obama visited Arlington National Cemetery and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. He underscored our military is no longer fighting in Iraq, and will withdraw from Afghanistan. The president also gave emphasis to protecting military benefits and finding jobs for those leaving military service in this tough economy.

A Gallup Poll released on Memorial Day shows veterans support Romney over Obama by 58 percent to 34 percent. In the 2008 presidential election, exit polls indicated voters identified as veterans supported Republican nominee John McCain over Obama by 54 percent to 44 percent. For several decades, the U.S. military has been more inclined than the electorate overall to vote Republican, in contrast to earlier periods.

The president paid special tribute to Vietnam War veterans, describing denigration they experienced as "a national shame, a disgrace." The Vietnam Memorial itself was initially controversial. Maya Lin's winning design featured black stone engraved with 58,272 names of Americans killed in the war.

The unconventional concept, absence of patriotic symbols, and even Lin's Asian heritage was criticized. However, since completion the Memorial is respected, especially among vets and their families. Personal mementos are left daily.

Romney chose to visit San Diego. The Southern California city is heavily involved with the military and is principal homeport to the U.S. Pacific Fleet, with more than 180 individual military commands in the immediate area. Many retired military people live there.

The city hosts the U.S. Marine Corps Recruit Depot, a boot camp for all enlisted Marine personnel west of the Mississippi River. Just to the north is Camp Pendleton, an enormous military reservation.

Romney was joined in San Diego by Vietnam War hero and former POW Sen. John McCain, who defeated him for the Republican nomination in 2008. As the U.S. begins to cut military spending, Romney pledged to maintain a military force "with no comparable power anywhere in the world."

How do these contrasting events play into the presidential politics of 2012?

National security remains an important Republican advantage. Before the 2008 presidential election, opinion polls showed voters preferred Democrats to Republicans on the economy, education, the environment, health care and other policy matters.

The one exception was protecting the nation, where Republicans maintained an edge, now well established in American opinion. Romney seeks to retain this high ground.

Had McCain emphasized national security more persuasively, conceivably he could have won the presidential contest. Obama's retention of Defense Secretary Robert Gates from the Bush administration underscores the point.

Another smart and sensible early Obama move was appointing Gen. Eric Shinseki as secretary of Veterans Affairs. A decorated combat veteran wounded in Vietnam, he was abruptly fired as Army chief of staff for opposing the Bush administration invasion of Iraq.

As citizens, we must evaluate thoroughly candidates' specific proposals regarding national security, a topic especially open to distracting rhetoric.

This is where presidential leadership counts most.

Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College. E-mail him at acyr@carthage.edu.