The honeymoon is over for President Barack Obama. Gallup numbers warn a generic GOP candidate currently beats the sitting president with 46 percent to 38 percent. Can the Democratic Party point to the issues and turn around this trend? Does the GOP have what it takes to capitalize on President Obama's perceived weaknesses and take a deciding lead in the 2012 election?
Federal Budget Concerns
A Nov. 4 Gallup poll highlights that swing state voters consider the federal budget and national debt to be among the most pressing issues. With a 16 percent point spread between the parties -- the advantage goes to the Republicans -- this is the most damaging issue for President Obama.
The last federal government surplus occurred under Democratic President Bill Clinton. The White House's historical financial documents show deficit spending increased during both terms of Republican George W. Bush and then again during President Obama's tenure. A quintessential example of presidential spending is the recent executive order releasing $527 million in grant monies for infrastructure spending.
Not surprisingly, GOP contenders succeed in painting the Democratic Party as the party of "tax and spend." Case in point is Herman Cain, who warns voters that "federal government spending is out of control." He believes to hold the answer: Modernization or elimination of "some of our entitlement programs." Cain further envisions cuts to every federal agency.
Unemployment Worries
Gallup's swing state voters cited unemployment as the second most important issue, with a much smaller point spread of 7 percent separating the parties. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the unemployment rate has fluctuated marginally between 9 percent and 9.2 percent from April to October 2011. Long-term unemployment - those out of work for at least 27 weeks - declined marginally to 5.9 million workers (of the total 13.9 million).
The president had drafted his contentious Jobs Act to turn things around; Republicans balked at the details. Calling this move "unacceptable" - as highlighted by ABC News - the Obama Administration attempted righteous blustering. This move fell flat in light of Democratic defections. Fox News shows that the real issue of the bill's failure had to do with the fact that "Democrats Ben Nelson of Nebraska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas and Independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut" refused to go along.
GOP contenders are capitalizing on a divided Democratic Party and presenting their own plans for getting Americans back to work. Take Mitt Romney's "Believe in America" plan, which details how the candidate intends to combine corporate tax cuts with an easing of regulations to invigorate the business landscape.
Health Care Failures
The narrow margin of 1 percent stands between the GOP and the DNC when it comes to health care. Republicans "want you to die quickly if you get sick," Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida asserted in 2009. USA Today highlighted in this manner the contentious nature of debate over the health care bill. Fast forward to 2011, and ABC notes that the Affordable Care Act is gradually unraveling, with the latest cut being the Community Living Assistance Services and Support program.
GOP contender Rick Perry seizes the opportunity to offer Americans a way to return to a status quo of "employer-sponsored health plans." He intends to repeal "Obamacare."
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