Will Obama Run In 2012?

A Strategy For Not Running?

Dick Morris, former President Bill Clinton political advisor, said on “The Sean Hannity Show” on September 28, 2011, said that President Barack Obama may not run for president in 2012, saying that he may agree to requests from the Democrat leadership in Congress to step aside. A withdrawal by Obama would allow Democrats to recover some of their popularity that Obama and his policies cost them in the 2010 election. It would also allow Obama to present himself as above the partisan fights in Congress, claiming the reason he’s not running for reelection is to solve persistent economic recession and high unemployment problems. This strategy will help Democrats portray Republicans as stubborn and non-compromising, uninterested in solving the nation’s problems.

Said Morris, “I asked a top Democratic strategist the other day and he thought that it was possible that, in January, Harry Reid comes to Obama and says, ‘Look you cost us control of the House last year, you’re going to cost us control of the Senate this year. For the good of the party you have to step aside’.”

It is unlikely that Obama will decide not to run in 2012. There are few Americans who see themselves as larger than the American presidency, but Obama is one of them. In 2008, Obama showed little interest in the down-and-dirty aspects of political campaigning. Governing has been much more difficult for him than he thought it would. He considers himself to be a “citizen of the world.” He has dismissed the idea of American exceptionalism.

The Democrats’ Obama Problem

Democrats are desperate to find a way to ease Barack Obama out of running for reelection. How do you convince a failed narcissist to bow out so adults can take back the party? And how do you keep the most loyal voting bloc, blacks, within the party, while pushing aside the first black president? Former First Lady Hillary Clinton, a loyal Democrat, has remained silent in public over Obama’s missteps. Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio said that more and more Democrats believe that Obama needs to be challenged. “It’s a common refrain, and it’s certainly common in my district among Democrats,” he said. “They want the guy back that they voted for.”

Former Clinton adviser James Carville called for Obama to ‘wake up’ and ‘panic.’ Carville called on Obama to clean house, fire staff that’s advising him, and return to Democractic principles that got him elected. “This is what I would say to President Barack Obama: The time has come to demand a plan of action that requires a complete change from the direction you are headed.” Carville’s advice: “Fire somebody. No – fire a lot of people.”

Will Scandels Keep Him From Running?

Solyndra, the “green energy” company failure, is an example of how Democrats can keep Obama off the 2012 ticket. Further, Lightsquared and Fast and Furious are scandals that will not go away. There are at least four investigations on the legal, political, and financial ties between the Obama administration and Solyndra. It is likely that Solyndra contains enough incriminating information for Congress to force Obama from office. There are, potentially, other Solyndras out there.

Democrats would like to get rid of Obama. A criminal investigation will provide the opportunity for a divorce. Appearing to be tough in an investigation would distance Democrats from Obama. If they see an opportunity to take him out, they may go for it.

Will Polls Keep Him From Running?

A Gallup poll says the percentage of Americans who approve of the way President Barack Obama is handling his job as president has dropped back to the 39%, just one percentage point above his all-time low of 38%. Over the three-day period from September to 26 to 28, 2011, Obama’s approval averaged only 39 percent. Pronouncements about not looking at polls and concentrating on getting things done are standard fare from poll-driven, election-obsessed politicians.

But that’s just my opinion.