FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
President Obama is hitting the road this week to speak at town hall meetings in Virginia, California and Nevada. His goal is to push his deficit reduction plan while trying to reconnect with voters.
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Last week, when the president laid out his plan to cut $4 trillion from the deficit over the next 12 years, it was mostly greeted with a yawn and criticized as being more of a re-election plan than a fiscal discipline plan.
While the country struggles with a debt crisis, President Obama has problems of his own. A new Gallup Poll shows just 41% of Americans approve of the job Barack Obama is doing as president. That ties his all-time low rating. He's bottomed out at 41% three other times - twice in August 2010 and once in October. And while the approval rate remains high among Democrats at 77%, only 35% of independents think he's doing a good job.
Perhaps even more troubling is a previous Gallup Poll that shows President Obama's support has slipped dramatically among blacks and Hispanics as well.
But he is the incumbent and therefore presumably the Democratic candidate for 2012. Or is he?
A lot of Americans are fed up with the president's unwillingness to admit the mess this country is in. And it's not just about debt. It's about his ineffectiveness when Congress couldn't agree over spending cuts and his lack of leadership on the Libyan conflict. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to step in and take care of that. And it's about the overall promise of change Obama made to American voters in 2008, one he has not delivered on. Three wars instead of two, Guantanamo's still open.
Transparency? Not! And deficits and a national debt the likes of which we've never seen before.
A second term is far from a sure thing.
Here’s my question to you: Should Democrats seek someone to run against President Obama next year?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Bradley in Oregon:
Yes. Obama has turned out to be a very weak Democrat who always gives in to the Republicans without putting up much of a fight. If you look at what he *does* rather than what he *says*, he looks a lot more like a moderate Republican than a Democrat.
Mike in Denver:
I do not think Obama can win a second term, so "yes." But there is no way to run another Democratic candidate without splitting the party, which would hand the presidency to the Republicans, so "no." They should focus on Congress and concede the White House now.
Marian Newfoundland, Canada:
Of course not. You guys don't know when you've got something good going. Look what we're stuck with here in Canada! If you don't want President Obama, please send him to us.
Michael in Albuquerque:
Yes. We elected the wrong Obama. We should nominate Michelle Obama in 2012.
Joni:
I thought I would never say this but Hillary, where are you? I'm a Republican who will do whatever it takes to fix my country.
Dave in Orlando:
It would be risky, but I’m tired of his smoke and mirrors solutions (such as the healthcare reform without a public option, bailouts etc.) and I’m still waiting for him to fulfill any of his promises.
Michael in Alexandria, Virginia:
No. Democrats who want someone more liberal should become Greens. Democrats who want someone more centrist should join the Independence Party of America. Primarying Obama simply hands the White House to the Republicans.
D.:
I think Mr. Obama is an empty suit. The Democrats better come up with a strong, honest, hard-working, non-arrogant leader or my vote is lost. To even think of raising taxes or the debt ceiling without a long term plan is not working for the people. Mr. Obama needs to stop trying to shift the wealth and look at the waste.
Chuck in Maryland:
If the Republicans put up Donald Trump then I think the Democrats would have no choice but to counter with Charlie Sheen.