Why didn't Bill Clinton emphasize his national security views enough in '92?

[Suburbia]

Yes, Clinton was a young governor with no experience, but why didn't he emphasize the post-Cold War vision of his views enough in the '92 debates?

[darklordoftech]

1. He largely ran on agreeing with Bush’s foreign policy while differentiating himself on domestic policy.

2. Why emphasize an issue on which voters prefer your opponent?

3. “It’s the economy, stupid.”

[libertpaulian]

Many of the crucial foreign policy issues of the day were largely resolved by the fall of 1992, so there was no need to discuss foreign policy.

[Sumner 1868]

The public was in a isolationist mood until the Kosovo war. There was heavy public support for strong reduction in defense spending.

[MIKESOWELL]

By 1992 the country was primarily focused on domestic issues, mainly the economy, crime, abortion, etc. Foreign policy was Bush's strongest area. Clinton wanted to keep Bush off stride as much as possible with keeping the narrative about the economy as did Perot.

[NCJeff]

By 1992 the country was primarily focused on domestic issues, mainly the economy, crime, abortion, etc. Foreign policy was Bush's strongest area. Clinton wanted to keep Bush off stride as much as possible with keeping the narrative about the economy as did Perot.

This. Smart campaigns relentlessly drive home a single message. For Clinton, it was that he was going to be better on kitchen table issues.  Litigating anything else is just a distraction.