Which candidate mixed up countries during his campaign speeches, negatively impacting his perception?

The candidate who mixed up countries during his campaign speeches, which negatively affected his public perception, is Dan Quayle. As Vice President during George H.W. Bush's administration, Quayle famously misspoke in various contexts, including confusing various countries and making errors that drew media attention and public scrutiny. Specific instances included mispronouncing foreign leaders' names and references that did not align with the geopolitical realities of the time. These gaffes contributed to the perceptions of his inexperience and lack of foreign policy knowledge, ultimately impacting the effectiveness of his candidacy and the public's view of him as a serious political figure.

This aspect of Quayle's speeches is a demonstration of how public speaking and knowledge of foreign affairs can directly influence a candidate's image and electoral prospects.