How Far Can Obama’s Road to Re-Election Go?

U.S. President Obama announced on April 4 that he will participate in the 2012 presidential election, which formally raised the curtain of the re-election campaign.

2012 Begins Now

According to reports, Obama released a video on that day on his own website that said he would be participating in the re-election, he sent an email to his supporters indicating that he would run for re-election, and White House officials said Obama would visit the Federal Election Commission to fill out re-election forms.

On the Internet, Obama emphasized: “This campaign is just kicking off. We’re opening up offices, unpacking boxes, and starting a conversation with supporters like you to help shape our path to victory. 2012 begins now.”

A relevant party confirmed that Obama chose the method of sending text messages and emails and directly posting campaign videos on the website for the voters, intending to replay the online card.

In fact, as early as last February, Obama’s advisers started preparatory work on 2012 campaign issues and expanded dialogue with all circles. White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod has already left the White House to return to Obama’s Chicago headquarters and is responsible for the whole re-election campaign’s themes, advertising and other related content.

White House spokesman Gibbs resigned a short time ago, and it was widely reported that after Gibbs’ resignation, he would establish a public relations firm and pave the way for Obama’s re-election.

Obama’s Bargaining Chips

When Obama entered the White House, his public approval rating reached as high as 78 percent, which is truly rare. Obama has also been praised as a political superman.

But, in reality, the superman color is gradually fading. After Obama appeared on stage, he drastically carried out a domestic economic recovery program, health care reform and the reorganization of the United States’ financial markets, but he was hamstrung. A quantitative easing policy made developing countries glare at him. A double-digit unemployment rate made him come under greater attack.

During last year’s midterm election, Obama’s Democratic Party went into a tailspin and handed over control of the House of Representatives. The slightest mistake would cause an unexpected reversal, directly impacting the 2012 re-election undertaking.

In the area of foreign affairs, Obama declared he would withdraw troops from Iraq. But chaos continues in Iraq, and the situation in Afghanistan is also extremely precarious. His dialogue at the beginning of taking office has become more and more like the unilateralism of his predecessor, Bush — the Libyan air strikes are led by America.

Obama’s approval rating has again achieved a new low; a Quinnipiac University poll released today shows Obama’s public approval rating has already dropped to 42 percent. Besides this, nearly half of the respondents said that Obama was not suitable for re-election.

Can There Be Change?

Naturally, Obama himself knows that he’s in an awkward position. But the situation is not irreversible. In their days, Clinton and Reagan experienced a midterm-elections defeat, but ultimately both were re-elected as president. And the good news is that up to now, he has yet to have an evenly matched opponent.

There was a big shake-up at the White House where trusted advisers left, and officials with close ties to Wall Street were welcomed; the economic card seems to have become Obama’s main fight. The return of many Clinton veterans shows Obama has chosen to return to the Clinton path. And Clinton is believed to be the president who was best at the economy.

Everything that Obama has done has been centered around boosting the economy. Obama’s visits abroad to China and Latin America have all been to sign contracts and orders with these countries and regions for creating American domestic job opportunities.

Announcing his re-election campaign on April 4, the old Obama is scheming for tricks, because that day’s unemployment rate fell to 8.8 percent, a new two-year low at the time the data was freshly released. Additionally, beginning in three days, the United States will no longer carry out air strikes against Libya, having stood for peaceful means.