Drawing focus to Bernanke would show that Romney means business
When President Obama and his rival presidential candidate Mitt Romney engage in their first television debate tomorrow, many besides Americans will be watching in hope that either man might offer a credible return to economic growth.
The American economy has had huge fiscal stimulants since 2008, first under President Bush and then Mr Obama, and is now on to its third monetary injection from the United States Federal Reserve. Yet business remains reluctant to expand, and unemployment remains high.
The most important figure in US economic policy will not be taking part in the debate and such is the status of a chairman of the Federal Reserve that Ben Bernanke might not be directly criticised. But it is time his prescription for the economy was seriously questioned.
In a speech yesterday, Mr Bernanke elaborated on his recent announcement that the Federal Reserve expected to keep interest rates near zero through to at least mid-2015. He sought to reassure investors that it "doesn't mean we expect the economy to be weak through 2015". Rather, he said the Fed expected to keep rates low well after the economy strengthens.