Electoral battles

Paris attacks may reshape U.S. presidential race

The lethal attacks in Paris have the potential to reshape the U.S. presidential race, placing a new emphasis on issues of national security, border control, and counterterrorism, while perhaps bolstering candidates who talk toughest about taking on Islamic State militants both at home and abroad.

National security has not assumed a central place in a U.S. presidential election for more than a decade as the economy preoccupied American voters. But with the nation's economic health on the upswing and the threat of Islamic terrorism now looming in Europe, that may change.

National security will be the focus of Saturday's Democratic presidential debate in Iowa, with the front-runner, Hillary Clinton, expected to be pressed on how she would confront the threat from Islamic State and other terror groups.