On Sunday talker, Romney avoids making news

Top Republican vice presidential prospect and former Gov. Mitt Romney said little of note during his appearance on ABC’s ‘This Week with George Stephanopoulos.’

He and his Democratic counterpart, former U.S. Senate Leader Tom Daschle, discussed the candidates’ reactions to the conflict between Russia and Georgia.

Romney pointed to Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s relationship with regional leaders and understanding of the Russian threat as evidence of his strong leadership abilities. He referred to Russia’s incursion and bombing of its southern neighbor as an “authoritarian event,” and said that Putin “has the ambitions of the Old Soviet Union.” He called for the inclusion of former Soviet satellite states to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

On the other hand, Daschle argued that “the Bush-McCain approach” and its focus on Iraq allowed other international issues to slip from the United States’ attention. He counseled a more tempered approach, expressing concern that “saber-rattling” without follow-up will make America look like a “paper tiger.” He also suggested that the solution to the current problem is not to cut Russia off from the international community by expelling them from the G8.

Romney insisted that a McCain administration would work with people around the world, including our “greatest enemies.”

“We will sit across the table from them – negotiate,” he said.

The most notable point of the interview came when Romney, who headed the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, said the International Olympic Committee might reconsider whether the 2014 Winter Games should be held in Sochi, as slated. The Russian city which sits near the Georgian border may be too much of “a hot zone” for the games to safely be held there, he said.

As expected, Romney was asked to respond to former GOP primary rival Mike Huckabee’s harsh comments against his selection as vice president. He was succinct in downplaying it.

“I think it is time for Republicans to come together and support the nominee,” he offered, declining to “argue” or make further comment.