CEDAR FALLS - One week before the Iowa caucuses, the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has thrust foreign policy and terrorism into the spotlight in the race for the U.S. presidency.

While many Iowans may not have heard of Bhutto before Thursday, images of violence in Pakistan, a country with nuclear arms, as well as reaction from candidates on the campaign trail, could make foreign policy a rising concern for caucus-goers.

Democrat Chris Dodd and Republican John McCain, two candidates who have worked for decades on international issues, each emphasized his experience during stops in Cedar Falls on Thursday.

After a rally at the Waterloo Center for the Arts, Democrat John Edwards, who comparatively has little foreign policy experience, noted he had spoken with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf hours after Bhutto's death.

Recent polls have shown that, other than Iraq, voters place foreign policy below issues like the economy, immigration and health care. Also, recent news that the surge in Iraq is working had shifted some attention away from international affairs. Now, all that could change, said Dennis Goldford, professor of political science at Drake University.

"This (assassination) makes foreign policy more relevant," Goldford said. "This will be talked about in the context of the turbulence in the world, and that Pakistan's nuclear weapons can't be allowed to be taken over by al-Qaida."

Goldford said unrest in Pakistan, a country central to America's fight against terrorism, will likely benefit candidates who tout their experience, particularly on the international stage. Among the front-runners, McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton could receive a late boost, while Republican Mike Huckabee could suffer the most.

"Republicans love to talk about (foreign policy)," he said. "The one exception for them is Huckabee, who has absolutely no foreign policy experience, and hasn't said anything on the subject that makes any sense to most Republicans."

On Thursday, Huckabee's critics jumped on a minor gaffe he made in Florida, after he said Pakistan was under martial law, even though Musharraf had lifted emergency rule about two weeks ago.

McCain, the Republican in the race with the most foreign policy experience, told a Cedar Falls crowd he had been involved in every national security issue for the last 20 years. In an interview after the event, McCain displayed a depth of knowledge about Pakistan when talking about the country's immediate future. He explained that, unlike in the U.S., where a candidate is drawn into a party, Pakistanis tend to form parties around one person.

"The question is if (Bhutto's) party will find another candidate," he said. "She was of transcendent significance. She was a figure that would be hard for them to replace."

During a break from politicking at College Square Mall Thursday afternoon, Dodd said the assassination of Bhutto represents a threat to the U.S. because, unlike Iran or Iraq, Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons and the capability to deploy them.

The Connecticut senator said Musharraf should not step down - something Democratic rival Bill Richardson called for - because without a known replacement, Musharraf's ouster would leave a potentially dangerous leadership vacuum and could put nuclear weapons in the wrong hands.

"I think these events, as tragic as they are, are going to highlight the importance of having a mature, experienced candidate with proven results," he said. "Giving a great speech or living in the White House does not necessarily make you qualified at all and be prepared for those unexpected events."

Edwards addressed the issue earlier in the day, but focused solely on domestic issues at a political rally in Waterloo. In an interview afterward, the former North Carolina senator said he urged Musharraf to continue Pakistan on a path to democracy.

"I spoke to President Musharraf today and encouraged him to continue the process for democratization, to allow independent international investigators come in and to determine what happened and who is responsible, and hold them responsible," he said.

Courier Staff Writer Josh Nelson contributed to this report.

Contact Jens Manuel Krogstad (319) 291-1580 or jens.krogstad@wcfcourier.com.