- NEW: Republicans step up criticism of Obama on Libya, Iran
- The first presidential debate is Wednesday night in Denver
- A new memo circulated by Romney campaign outlines two futures for America
- Chris Christie: "This whole race is going to be turned upside down come Thursday morning"
Washington (CNN) -- Republicans intensified their criticism of President Barack Obama's foreign policy on Monday, noting questions about his administration's slow-to-evolve accounting of last month's deadly attack on an American diplomatic post in Libya and the U.S. response to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney said in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece two days before he meets Obama in the season's first presidential debate that the United States could be brought into another fight if the turmoil in the Middle East is not calmed.
"We're not moving them in a direction that protects our people or our allies. And that's dangerous," Romney wrote, referring to current policy on Iran that he says puts Israel at risk.
"If the Middle East descends into chaos, if Iran moves toward nuclear breakout, or if Israel's security is compromised, America could be pulled into the maelstrom," Romney wrote.
His running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, separately criticized the Obama administration's response to the September 11 attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.
"If this event was an isolated incident that would be tragic enough," Ryan said. "Instead, it's really indicative of a broader failure of this administration's foreign policy and the crisis that is taking place across the Middle East.
He noted the revised account of what occurred at the consulate - first described as an attack that U.S. officials thought grew out of a spontaneous demonstration against an anti-Muslim film. The intelligence community said on Friday it now believes the attack was "a deliberate and organized terrorist assault carried out by extremists" affiliated or sympathetic with al Qaeda.
"We've seen a confused, slow, inconsistent response to what is now very clearly known as a terrorist act," Ryan said in a radio interview with Laura Ingraham on Monday.
"To simply conclude right away that this was a spontaneous mob is in the face of the facts. You know there are Republicans and Democrats - don't forget there are Democrats in Congress - who are also looking for answers who are digging into this thing," Ryan said.
Moreover, conservative super PAC American Crossroads, co-founded by former George W. Bush adviser Karl Rove, released a video on Monday harshly criticizing Obama for his response to the Libya attack.
Romney will continue to focus on foreign policy and the economy heading into Wednesday's debate with Obama in Denver, according to a campaign memo obtained by CNN and campaign advisers who spoke Monday on a conference call.
"Governor Romney will, over the next few weeks, crystallize the choice for voters on the issue of foreign policy and national security," said senior adviser Kevin Madden, adding that Romney would "lay out a stronger vision for American foreign policy based on the strong leadership that we need to shape world events and protect American interests and ideals."
"The Big Choice"
Romney's campaign is characterizing the election as "The Big Choice."
In the campaign memo, the Romney camp outlined to staff and surrogates what it said was a clear choice for two different futures -- one under Romney and the other under President Barack Obama.
Under Obama, the memo said that the country would have "four more years like the last four years with a stagnant economy that fosters government dependency and a foreign policy that makes the world less safe."
Under Romney, the memo said that both the economy and the country's leadership in the world will be stronger.
"When Mitt Romney is president, our nation will have pro-growth policies that foster upward mobility -- and lift people out of poverty -- and we will ensure peace through American leadership and strength," the memo said.
Both campaigns slowed the pace of their schedules ahead of Wednesday's debate in Denver.
Obama flew West over the weekend with a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, while Romney began the week in Boston with plans to travel to Colorado later on Monday.
A senior campaign official told CNN the president spent "some time" practicing Sunday night and then "reconvened" his sessions this morning.
First on CNN: Romney memo seeks to lower debate expectations
Christie being Christie
While the Romney's campaign and its surrogates spent the better part of the week downplaying his expectations, one of his more notable campaigners went off message and predicted Romney would turn the race "upside down."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said on Sunday that he expects Romney to shine when he shares the stage with Obama.
"We have a candidate who is going to do extraordinarily well on Wednesday night," Christie said on CBS' "Face the Nation." The Republican governor said Romney will have his first chance to directly contrast his vision for the country with that of Obama.
But a majority of voters aren't expecting Romney to be victorious in the first debate.
According to an ABC News/Washington Post national poll released Monday, 55% of likely voters say they think the president will win the debate with 31% saying that Romney will come out on top.
Crowley: Memo to Chris Christie -- did you get the memo?
CNN analyst Ron Brownstein said Christie's "voice from the bleachers" reflected the campaign's dueling objectives for the debate.
"Republicans at this point do have competing and somewhat incompatible goals going into this debate," Brownstein said Monday on CNN's "Early Start." On the one hand, obviously, they don't want to overhype the expectations for what Romney can do."
On the other hand, Brownstein said the campaign needs a jump start with polls showing Romney trailing nationally and in key swing states.
Romney debate challenge: High stakes, lowered expectations
Romney working on "zingers" for debate
Romney has reportedly been working on "zingers" for the debate, The New York Times reported. Their purpose is to make Obama seem "smug" or evasive, the paper reported.
The president's campaign said Obama won't likely be flinging barbs.
"If you're expecting that, that's probably not what he's going to deliver," Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters on Air Force One as Obama was flying to Nevada."He's speaking directly to the American people and what they want to hear is what his plan is for moving the country forward."
McCain: Debate will go down in history
Debate will frame the rest of the race
The first debate focusing on the economy will set the stage for the final weeks of the race, said Republican strategist and CNN contributor Alex Castellanos.
"This is their first chance -- our first chance to see the two gladiators in the arena alone, so how they -- who is the Alpha dog in this debate? That's what we want to see. Because if you can't beat the other guy, how can you lead the country?" Castellanos said on "State of the Union."
Castellanos: Romney rallies are a waste of time
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