LONDON – Mitt Romney – a one-term governor untested on the world’s political stage – faces high stakes in the coming week during visits to England, Israel and Poland. It’s a trip that amounts to an international audition.

The Republican presidential candidate is seeking to persuade voters back home to elect him their leader in a complex, dangerous world. His trip will invite comparisons to Barack Obama’s successful overseas 2008 tour before he won the White House.

Romney, whose decades in private business gave him ample exposure to international affairs, hopes to prove that he is no novice on foreign policy. At the same time he’ll be highlighting a key part of his résumé – the successful Salt Lake City Olympics he managed – with a visit to the opening days of the London Games. He’s also planned a series of meetings – and photo events – with political leaders in the three countries he’s visiting in hopes of projecting an image of leadership.