As job growth stagnates, Obama’s re-election hopes may rest on painting opponent as even worse

[Better Believe It]

As job growth stagnates, Obama’s re-election hopes may rest on painting opponent as even worse
By Associated Press
September 5, 2011

President Barack Obama faces a long re-election campaign having all but given up on the economy rebounding in any meaningful way before November 2012. His own budget office predicts unemployment will stay at about 9 percent, a frightening number for any president seeking a second term.

Obama’s prospects aren’t entirely grim, however. The GOP, heavily influenced by the tea party, may nominate someone so deeply flawed or right-leaning that, Democrats hope, Obama can persuade Americans to give him a second chance rather than risk the alternative.

Democrats say the man who ran on hope and change in 2008 will have to claw his way toward a second term with a sharply negative campaign.

Hopeful Democrats say Obama can survive next year if people feel growth is coming soon. Another way to survive is uglier: admitting the economy is a mess, but pressing the case that the GOP alternative is so unacceptable that the incumbent should stay in office, even with no recovery in sight.

Read the full article at:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/whitehouse/as-job-growth-stagnates-obamas-re-election-hopes-may-rest-on-painting-opponent-as-even-worse/2011/09/05/gIQAM7RH3J_story.html

[LonePirate]

1. Are there actually expectations that Obama will paint the Repubs as the extreme loons that they are?

I guess there's a first time for everything.

[Kalidurga]

2. Obama has not done a single thing to paint the alternative as worse...

they did all that mess all by themselves.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[HuckleB]

4. That won't be hard to do.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[MrTriumph]

6. I just spent an evening with Democratic friends. ALL are disgusted with Obama.

If we want a positive race, with sound, firm Democratic solutions we need to replace Pres. Obama with a real Democrat. And there are many viable, well spoken Democrats who can fill the bill.

[truedelphi]

7. That is my experience also. I don't have any non-democratic voting friends, so

Everyone I know is quite unlikely to vote Republican.

One friend of mine keeps saying the only person that looks Presidential to her is Senator Bernie Sanders (I) of Vt.

And I have to agree.

Obama has that conniving used car salesman vibe. He has been much more of a "spokesperson" for the wealthy and for Corporate interests than many Republicans I remember, than a true leader.