It appears by all indications that the president's men and women running his re-election campaign are seeing blue skies ahead. That is most likely based on the latest economic numbers mildly hinting the country's prolonged deep recession is seeing a slit of light for the first time in 32 months.
The endless Republican primary season, better known as Hatfields vs McCoys, is lifting once sagging “Hope and Change” spirits also. With every debate and insult tossed back and forth between “GOP brothers,” the Obama people see terrific sound bites for their re-election ads later in the spring, summer and fall.
There will be plenty of them with an estimated $1 billion to spend.
But February is a lifetime from November. Obama's two primary campaign strategists, David Axelrod and Valarie Jarrett are well aware of that fact. The economy is on shaky ground at best with yesterday's. With yesterday's announcement of possible gas prices skyrocketing by summer along with continuing troubles in the Middle East (Iran, Syria and Egypt) with ever-continuing worries about the Euro and faltering economies in Spain, Portugal and, especially Greece, the White House is walking on eggshells.
No, it's a long way to the finish line and plenty of time for the GOP candidates to smoke the peace pipe and rally behind the probable victor, former governor Mitt Romney.
The media, quite naturally, has been focused on the Republican race. Every wart has been exposed on the four remaining candidates. The public has seen all their tax returns (except Ron Paul, who is not considered hot copy on this topic), Newt's three wives, Romney's off-shore bank accounts and Santorums's, well, Santorum's something.
It is more than a bit obvious, setting aside the possibility of a catastrophic revelation about Romney or another couple of dozen on Gingrich, that these two men are the last potential nominees of their party. It appears time for them to face their own set of facts. The futile bickering is doing neither any good.
Romney seems poised with his campaign campaign organization and Obama-like money to virtually run the table in the next dozen primaries. Aside from possible challenges in Minnesota and Missouri (no delegates involved), “Super Tuesday,” the first week of March, looks like Romney all the way.
It's time for the former governor and former Speaker to shake hands and unite their forces in one common cause – defeating Barack Obama in November.
The Republicans have an enormous amount of material from the past three years to “discuss” with the American people that may wipe the over-confident smirks off many Obama strategists, such as:
THE OBAMA RECORD 2009-2012
*Unemployed Americans - 1/09, 12 million - 2/12, 14 million - Up 2 million
*Unemployment Rate - 1/09, 7.8% - 2/12, 8.3% - Up .5%
Gas Prices - 1/09, $1.85.00 - 2/12, $3.43 - Up 85%
Federal Debt - 1/09, 10.6 trillion - 2/12, 14.7 trillion -Up 39%
Debt per Person - 1/09, $34,731.00 - 2/12. $47,047 - Up $12,316
Misery Index - 1/09, 7.8 - 2/12. 12.9 - Up 65%
Food Stamp Recipients - 1/09, 32 million - 2/12. 45 million - Up 45%
Health Insurance Premiums - 1/09, $3,354.00 - 2/12, $4,139.00 -Down 73%
Home Values - 1/09. $193,400.00 - 2/12. $172,600.00 - Down 11%
U.S. Competitiveness - 1/09, 1st place - 2/12, 5th place - Down 4 Places
Americans in Poverty - 1/09, 39.8 million - 2/12. 46.2 million - Up 7.6 million
* Underemployed rate estimated at 17% or more.
Once the Republicans unite behind one candidate and begin their push for the White House in earnest, these sort of numbers will speak volumes to an American people that have been distracted by smokescreens such as class warfare and income redistribution. The last thing the Obama campaign wants to discuss in the general election is the Obama record.
There's a long way to go.
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