Who’s Afraid of Big Bad Obama?

Since November of last year, after the U.S midterm elections, morale in the Republican Party has been at its zenith. The Republican Party reclaimed control of the House and threatened to do so in the Senate as well, leading many to believe that next year’s presidential elections would be won by a Republican.

But today, five months after the midterm elections, a cursory look at the potential presidential candidates from the right draws but a sigh. As recently as the midterm elections, eight Republicans declared an interest in their party’s presidential candidacy, only to fade one by one from the public’s eye.

The candidates’ lack of visibility is not due to their sudden modesty. Rather, it is because, against all odds, President Barack Obama has regained much of his power and influence. Despite November’s humiliating loss, support for President Obama has continued. In the entire history of post-World War II United States, only three presidents have been very unpopular after having their party lose the midterm elections.

Surprisingly enough, the reason that Obama is enjoying relatively high popularity is because of the economy. U.S economic growth is still down to a crawl, but it is showing signs of recovery. Even the unemployment rate, which recently dipped, is looking bright. If Obama is lucky, a recovering economy may give him the boost he needs in time for 2012.

Things are going rather well for Obama, yet the Republican would-be candidates act as if paralyzed. They have little press exposure, and their fundraising efforts are meager. Moreover, instead of promoting their own laws and propositions, they seem too busy sniping at the Democratic Party.

The largest obstacle in the Republican Party’s way is none other than the Tea Party. The Republican Party has always made efforts to appeal to moderates and independents before elections, but the extremist Tea Party is now making this hard indeed. However, one must not forget that the Republican Party is still able to make valid criticisms of the Obama administration on several points. One of these is the national deficit. Obama has, as of yet, been unable to put forth a reliable plan to reduce the ever-snowballing national deficit. On the other hand, Republican budget proposals seem more fiscally responsible.

The Republican Party must focus their efforts on finding, through their primary elections, the candidate most suited to stand up to Obama and solve the country’s fiscal and medical insurance-related problems. This is the only way to guarantee a fierce and close presidential election. If they are unable to do this, the Republicans will be forced to watch as Obama takes his seat in the White House once more in 2012.