When I wrote about presidential dream tickets nearly a year ago, with U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona leading Republicans and U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois as the No. 2 for Democrats, criticism rained from many directions.

Though the campaign is far from over, time has proven the skeptics wrong. McCain has the Republican nod wrapped up. Meanwhile, Obama wages a neck-and-neck struggle with U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York for the job of Democratic standard-bearer.

And my position?

It remains unchanged from May of last year. Now, as then, I have made no choices, militantly seek the middle, avoid any party affiliation and strive to evaluate the candidates. And I still have not seen or heard what I desire – especially in the foreign-policy realm. The key issues should include, but are not limited to, climate change, economic turmoil, emerging powers, globalization, health crises, human-rights violations, illegal immigration, Middle East conflicts, terrorism and the U.S. role in the world.

Unfortunately, a check of the three main candidates’ official Web sites indicates only limited attention to such matters. McCain not surprisingly calls for a stronger military in a dangerous world. He also outlines a strategy for victory in Iraq, discusses immigration reform, makes recommendations to stimulate the economy and mentions global warming.

Clinton presents ideas for ending the war in Iraq, dealing with global warming, reforming the immigration system and boosting the economy. She also includes some thoughts on the important issue of restoring America’s standing in the world.

Finally, Obama weighs in on the nation’s economic challenges, environmental concerns, the Iraq conundrum, immigration problems and homeland security. He also presents an entire section on foreign policy that, while welcome, is short on specifics.

Actually, each of the leading candidates displays the same shortcoming. All of them should raise the profile of foreign policy on their respective Web sites. For each issue, they should concisely summarize the main elements, indicate their thinking and how it has evolved, and outline a clear, coherent strategy for the future. Obviously, a few paragraphs per topic will not suffice.

Next, the candidates should make a point of including a greater amount of foreign-policy content – and I am not talking about simply Iraq and free trade – in their speeches and writings. They also should agree to substantive debates on foreign-policy issues.

More surprises may well materialize before November, but there should be none about the major foreign-policy positions of the next U.S. president. Americans deserve to hear those vital perspectives early, often and in considerable detail.

John C. Bersia won a Pulitzer Prize in editorial writing for the Orlando Sentinel in 2000.