Whether it’s Obama or Romney, economy key to Canada in U.S. election: envoy

OTTAWA – The U.S. ambassador to Canada says the single most important thing his country can do for its northern neighbour is improve the American economy.

U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson says Wednesday’s first presidential debate will be key in determining whether President Barack Obama or his Republican challenger Mitt Romney get to tackle that job next year.

Jacobson says both White House hopefuls offer starkly different visions of the best way to repair the ailing U.S. economy.

Jacobson was speaking to an audience of students and diplomats at Carleton University in Ottawa, where he was offering a primer on the Nov. 6 presidential election.

Referencing various polls that show Obama leading in key battleground states, Jacobson says the debate represents a key chance for Romney to change the momentum of the race.

Jacobson emphasized he was speaking as the U.S. ambassador to all Americans, even though he is a Democrat who was part of Obama’s historic 2008 election team.