Reply #182: JoePhilly, you actually see the problem quite well. [View All]

[JDPriestly]

Obama's big failing is that he does nothing to encourage the activists, those who formed his base in 2008 -- the people who would get out the vote for him if they liked what he was doing.

At this time, Obama's base, that is, his supporters (to the extent that he hasn't alienated everyone), are in big business -- the Wall Street crowd like Goldman and Morgan Stanley, and the lobbyists in D.C.

He certainly does not have much more than nodding support from union members. He has left them out to hang along with teachers and nurses.

Obama has managed to insult every activist group out there.

I am probably still listed as an OFA supporter, and I would not vote against him in a general election. But who is going to work for Obama? Who is going to talk to voters?

Are those guys at Goldman going to walk the streets in Cincinnati? I don't think they would want to spare the time from their trading desks to volunteer for Obama. So who is he going to persuade to do that?

Young people still "like" him, but how much energy will they put into re-electing him? Not much I'm afraid. They are too busy trying to get jobs and survive. He cannot count on that enthusiasm any more -- and he has no one to blame but himself.