The Obama factor should be interesting in this midterm election

[bigtree]

(REUTERS/Jim Young)


THE President has interjected himself in this midterm election like none other, to the degree that he's already intractably nationalized many of the races (normally a risk). Usually the opposition party has some success in hanging the president around their party's necks in these elections. Any anti-Obama sentiment that republicans might hope to benefit from looks to be losing energy every time the President steps up and asserts himself.

I think he's on the right track in seeking out those folks who were relatively new to the process in advancing him to the presidency to come out and solidify that choice by voting Democratic.

Watching him at the speech today in Philadelphia, I was struck by the passion and excitement Mr. Obama brings to the campaign trail. Between his plain-spoken appeal to the polls, he effectively recalled the republicans' responsibility for the loss of over 8 million jobs in advance of his presidency and outlined his own efforts in helping bring about a recovery.

The refrain which ran through my head as I watched him speak was, 'Do we want to go back to all of that republican nonsense?' I think that question should be an effective motivator for Democratic voters to rally to the polls.

"I think the pundits are wrong. I think we're going to win. But you've got to prove them wrong," Pres. Obama said. "They're counting on you staying home. If that happens they win."

"They're counting on the middle-class to stay home; union workers to stay home; women to stay home; black people to stay home." I heard him say on C-Span.

The President should be an interesting and engaging factor in the next month's campaigning.



(REUTERS/Jim Young)

[malaise]

1. The ReTHUGS sure don't want

Bush or Cheney.

[kentuck]

2. The Repubs made the elections about Obama...

They nationalized it. Now the President is only playing the part. What's to lose?

[malaise]

3. I'm lovin' it

:hi:

[bigtree]

4. he's warming to the role

He was on fire today . . .

[Ozymanithrax]

5. Republicans nationaized the midterms and are running against Obama...

So the only real answer is for him to step out and run agaisnt them.

[bigtree]

6. I agree. He can only relish the attention

He has the elevated platform . . . the more attention republicans give him, the more opportunity he has to shape the argument and appeal.

[Demeter]

7. Too Little of the Wrong Stuff and Too Late to Matter

The only reason it won't be a total bloodbath is because the opposition is even worse.

[bigtree]

8. a couple of articles today

. . . suggest that the black vote (which the President appears to be actively courting) can be a key factor in turning many of these races. I think it's getting late early for campaigning, but not too late for the GOTV effort.

Experts: Black Voters Could Sway 20 House Races:
http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=13320990