A significant percentage of Americans don't want to re-elect Obama...

[beagledave]

...unless they think about the alternative.

Pretty much lays out what the two campaigns will be about, especially if the economy improves.

"If the fall campaign becomes largely a referendum on Obama’s tenure in office, as Republicans hope it will, he could struggle to win a second term — barring an economic recovery that vastly outperforms expectations. If, however, it becomes a choice between the incumbent and the challenger, as Obama advisers predict it will, the president’s prospects would be brighter."

[Grace62]

Today's Rasmussen GOP-leaning poll has the President up by 7 over Romney, much more so over Gingrich and Santorum. Of course that is going to change back and forth between now and November, but the trend is interesting as more people are paying attention now than were last fall.
I also think it's interesting that Santorum is now polling better than Gingrich against Obama. All that negative ad spending by Romney took a toll.

Good economic news obviously helps Obama, but what's coming out in these primary battles (and the Komen side issue highlighted this too) is the extremism now controlling the GOP. That appeals to a narrow base, and not beyond. Independents are abandoning the Republicans now, and without them they cannot win.

What Republicans are trying to frame as a battle over "religious liberty" is backfiring. Americans are smart enough to know what that means, and does not mean. It means have your church and do what you want, as a church. However, if you decide to go into business, let's say the health insurance business, then you will play by the same rules as all others.
American expect the government to uphold that. Catholic Americans included. GOP politicians think that Catholic Bishops can complain about the President and that will automatically translate into votes for them.
BIG miscalculation.

[rjmacs]

Grace62 wrote:
What Republicans are trying to frame as a battle over "religious liberty" is backfiring. Americans are smart enough to know what that means, and does not mean. It means have your church and do what you want, as a church. However, if you decide to go into business, let's say the health insurance business, then you will play by the same rules as all others.
American expect the government to uphold that. Catholic Americans included. GOP politicians think that Catholic Bishops can complain about the President and that will automatically translate into votes for them.
BIG miscalculation.

Lots of good points, but i'm not sure that the President didn't miscalculate in how he handled the birth control policy matter. He led the bishops down a primrose path, and in so doing delayed the big fight until later. And in the way it was handled politically, piled a perceived sense of betrayal on top of dislike for the policy itself. What is at stake here, for independent Catholics, is not just the health care issue - it's whether President Obama can be trusted when he's talking to church leaders.

[cbelt3]

Fibble.

As far as most Americans are concerned, Obama isn't even running for President ! It's All Republicans, All the Time !

Once the conventions are over and the nominations have been completed, America will realize that Obama is actually running for a second term. Expect the numbers to flip at that point.

[Grace62]

Romney's campaign doesn't like the WaPo poll.

"Mitt Romney’s campaign is publicly arguing that the methodology of a WaPo/ABC poll tainted its finding that his national numbers are tanking. However, polling experts who talked to TPM say that the survey is in line with a broad set of evidence that Romney’s general election appeal is declining — even if the poll’s approach is less than ideal."

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/0...fpnewsfeed

[Mac-A-Matic]

After supporting Obama during the last campaign and watching his administration, I'm certainly not very interested in Obama continuing as our president.

However, I find the current slate of republican offerings to be unpalatable as well. Regardless of his claims, Gingrich is corrupt and Romney is too coy regarding his LDS dealings. Obama is the better choice over them - which really says nothing about quality politicians.

[Ted King]

Obama has a higher approval rating than Clinton did at this point in his presidency.

[haikuman]

Despite Obamas liabilities he is the only choice. . . The republicans have nothing this election season ymmv. There might also be very positive changes in the house and senate . . . again ymmv.

Rudie

[decay]

i want Obama to stay in office AND do a better job.

this Big Brother PATRIOT ACT sh!t has to end. i don't care who's in the Oval Office, it's unAmerican.