Obama's Last Chance to Repair Damage and Change the Debate

[xchrom]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/09/obamas-last-chance-to-repair-damage-and-change-the-debate/244686/

This is Obama's last chance to alter the economic debate with congressional Republicans. This is his State of the Union speech, given five months ahead of schedule by a White House justifiably panicked by polling data that indicates Obama's credibility on job creation has cratered--and with it his attachment to key reelection constituencies.

An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows 73 percent of respondents believe the country is on the "wrong track," the highest number in Obama's presidency. That number is within striking distance of the 78 percent registered in mid-October 2008, when the country was reeling from the financial meltdown and Obama was on the cusp of winning the presidency. The poll's wrong-track number has jumped 23 points since May, a sign of a potentially irreversible mood shift. What's more, the poll shows Obama has hit new lows on the economy. Thirty-seven percent approve of his performance, while 59 percent disapprove.

A Washington Post/ABC News poll found similar sentiments. But answers to one question buried in that poll might be the most telling: 47 percent said Obama's new economic program would have "no effect." If that wasn't bad enough, twice as many believe his plan would make matters worse than believe it will make them better--34 percent to 17 percent.

Beneath these gloomy economic numbers, at the national level and in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Obama this summer has lost considerable ground (10 to 16 points) with women, Hispanics, voters 18-29, voters with postgraduate or bachelor's degrees, and those earning $75,000 a year or more.

[FSogol]

1. "Last Chance?" Hardly. n/t

[yurbud]

2. Democrats can't beat Republicans by selling GOP deregulation and tax cut snake oil

[vi5]

3. Well if what's been talked about is any indication...

..then good luck with that. More Republican light policies of tax cuts and deregulation. Oh yeah, with a small side helping of some stimulus, but never mind that aspect of it.

Obama needs to go big and it just does not look like that is going to happen.

[creon]

4. I doubt it.

The election is Nov 2012.
It is not Sept 2011.

[The Wizard]

5. It all started to go down the crapper

when Obama and Democratic senators abandoned the public option. It was apparent that they were more interested in taking insurance lobby bribes than the well being of the working class. And this was done with majorities in both Houses. Of course the Senate is a roadblock to democracy and Republicans play hardball while Democrats agree to getting ass raped as long as the Republicans use a little grease.