I'm willing to bet.

[toddwv]

This election season is going to be typically brutal and one of the most expensive elections in history.

I'm personally willing to bet that President Obama moves to the left (even if it's only a little bit) in his second term.
I'm personally willing to bet that President Obama is a FAR better choice for President than ANY Republican candidate at this point.

Ideally, it would be nice to have a challenger in all primaries but a serious challenge drains election coffers and leaves the cash tapped for the "big game".

So I'm not saying that President Obama has been perfect. What I'm saying is that I REALLY don't want to risk the Republicans regaining control of both houses of Congress AND the White House.

So, yeah... I'm willing to bet on Obama.

[gateley]

1. +1 nt

[tridim]

2. It's not even close. Obama is the best candidate by far.

Americans will notice this simple fact when the Republicans start going after each other in their primaries.

[toddwv]

4. A year ago, I would've been sure.

However, REGARDLESS of who or what is at fault, it is historically VERY difficult for a sitting President to win when the economy is doing poorly.

I'd LOVE to be able to say that I have full confidence in the American public's ability to discern the political and economic machinations that have gotten us to the point where we are worrying about the possibility of a second-dip that could and probably will be worse than the the last recession, but I don't. This is the same public that elected George W. Bush to two terms. That right there is enough to completely deflate any bubble of confidence.

[kelly1mm]

3. Obama is back up to 50% on intrade reelection futures (he was at 49.3%)

so your even money bet is a fair one.

[Cosmocat]

5. Bottom line ...

1) Obama is the only democrat who can win
2) With the economy, and the Rs more than willing to continue to stiffle it because of this, it is a tough re-elect - TOUGH
3) Rs are going to fight TOOTH and NAIL, they are going to go ALL OUT, dirty and rough
4) Ds, disappointed or not fullfilled or whatever, are going to have to battle at the same intensity - if not, the Rs most DEFINITELY can win