Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Letter to the editor:

Obama will face a much tougher election in 2012

The November 2012 presidential election is 17 months away, and the president and his supporters are cheering over the stimulus packages, the 2011 budget deal and the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Add to the president’s list of credits the likelihood of an increase in the debt ceiling and a 2012 budget deal later this year. But is this enough for President Barack Obama to win re-election?

Blame and credit aside, most Americans are worse off than they were in November 2008. They are still worried about high unemployment rates; lack of jobs; declining home values; increasing home foreclosures; rising prices for gasoline, food, clothing, energy; and the government raising taxes.

Democrats believe Obama’s success for re-election in 2012 hinges on the lack of viable Republican presidential candidates. Obama Democrats are also hopeful for an economic recovery by the election. So far, they’re wrong on both and may still be wrong by election time.

If the economy gets no better, or becomes worse, the current Republican candidates and likely future hopefuls can beat Obama. Most of the Republican presidential candidates are as qualified to run and win, or more so, than Obama was in 2008.

The Democrats have a huge disadvantage this time that they didn’t have in 2008. Obama has to run on his record as president. The 2012 presidential election won’t be about whom to vote for, but instead whom to vote against: Barack Obama.

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