Source: New York Times

Barack Obama’s ratings may be low in Europe but his star is already beginning to shine again, all thanks to Mitt Romney, his Republican challenger.

As I write in my latest Page Two column: Romney’s ideas and policies have raised hackles in many European capitals. “Romney in the White House would be bad news for Europe,” one high-ranking European diplomat told me.

The Europeans support the Democrats, mostly for cultural and historical reasons. The Democrats are mostly secular in outlook and believe the state has much more of a role to play in providing some basic services than the Republicans.

That is why Europeans found it difficult to understand why the Republicans were so against Mr. Obama’s plans for mandatory health insurance.

Europeans also find it very difficult to relate to the growing role of religion among American conservatives. They have not forgotten how former president George W. Bush justified the war in Iraq as a war against evil. They also see how the Christian right exerts huge influence when it comes to Israel. 

But for all the differences, the Europeans may discover after next November that the Democrats and Republicans have a few things in common. 

Both worry about China, and so will shift U.S. foreign policy towards Asia. 

Both are no longer willing to foot the bill for European security and NATO’s inefficiencies. 

And whatever Republicans might say, there is no longer the appetite or the money for any more big military campaigns.

The Europeans have yet to take stock of such shifts in the transatlantic relationship.

This article originally appeared in the New York Times.