Obama Gets Some Good News

After weeks of bad news, President Obama has finally heard something positive -- he has a double-digit lead over rival Romney at present (53-40%). While we should not put too much stock in polling before August, when both Gore and Kerry saw their leads diminish on the way to "losing," it is a positive sign. Why? Because voters have turned toward Obama mainly out of concern for Romney (Slatest) even as unemployment and overall economic figures continue to disappoint and the Presidents approval rating falls. The reality is that a barrage of negative campaign ads are coming, but one wonders if Romney's character, Mormonism (1 in 5 voters said they would never vote for a Mormon in a recent poll), position within the one percent and tendency to put his foot in his mouth with measured aplomb will cost him as the election cycle heats up. Money may be on his side, but I have a feeling personality and positionality are not, and a too negative campaign (while effective at the local and state level) might just resonate poorly with a public that wants positive change, not more fear mongering and "same old, same old" rhetoric. Obama should now start making his case for reelection in earnest, reminding voters who has stood as the major stumbling block to his economic policies.