Obama Running For Re-election
In one of the biggest political surprises of the year, President Obama has announced that he would like a second term.
In one of the biggest political surprises of the year, President Obama has announced that he would like a second term.
AP (“Obama re-election launches with e-mail, website“):
President Barack Obama formally launched his re-election campaign Monday, urging grass-roots supporters central to his first White House run to mobilize again to protect the change he’s brought over the past two years.
The official start of his second White House bid comes 20 months before the November 2012 election.
“We’ve always known that lasting change wouldn’t come quickly or easily. It never does,” the Democrat said in an e-mail to supporters announcing his candidacy. “But as my administration and folks across the country fight to protect the progress we’ve made — and make more — we also need to begin mobilizing for 2012, long before the time comes for me to begin campaigning in earnest.”
He told them he was filing the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, and directed them to his new campaign website where a launch video featured clips from supporters talking about their continued backing of the Democrat.
I did not see this coming.
The video is interesting mostly for what it says about the Obama team’s polling. The message is, look, we don’t all agree with everything he’s done, but we respect him and trust his judgment. I think that’s the right approach. I think his narrative is damaged but still essentially intact, and his personality remains attractive.
I also think if Nate Silver’s right about the accuracy of early polling you guys might just as well sit it out. Because there’s no way you beat Obama with Huckabee, Palin or Gingrich. Jeb might have a shot, or Chris Christie, but my guess is they’d both rather wait for an open contest in 2016.
Right now it looks like Romney, whose reputation for managerial competence rests on some very dubious ground. Plus the guy just comes across like a sleaze out of Mad Men. In a battle of likability he doesn’t have a chance against Obama. If Romney goes all attack dog — which he’d have to do — he’s even less likable.
In any event, I think crazy will have its day and the Tea Party types will rebel if they’re shut out and told to line up for Mitt. At very least you’ll have to give them a Veep and we’ve been down that road before.
Finally! The “will he/won’t he” game was simply killing me.