FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With the 2012 campaign well under way, the Republican candidates are out there daily tripping all over themselves and each other to win their party's nomination. As the incumbent, President Obama is expected to be the Democratic nominee. But what if he's not?
Consider this - a new CNN-ORC poll shows 70% of Democrats want the president to be the party's nominee. That number may sound high, but it's actually down 11 points since June. Working in the president's favor, only 57% of Democrats wanted the party to renominate Bill Clinton in 1994... and we all know how that turned out.
However - there are other bleak signs on the horizon for President Obama. His job approval rating continues to decline, hitting a new low of 39% for one 3-day period last week according to Gallup.
And Americans are increasingly unhappy with Mr. Obama's handling of the economy - the number one issue in the country.
According to Gallup, he gets a lousy 26% approval rating on the economy, 24% for his handling of the federal budget deficit and 29% for job creation. These are terrible numbers.
As if to confirm them, Morgan Stanley was out with a report this morning that says the United States is "dangerously close" to a recession in the next 6 to 12 months.
President Obama says he has a plan for job growth... but he's waiting until after Labor Day to tell us.
Why is he waiting? The unemployment rate is 9.1%. Do you suppose there are millions of Americans who would like to know how the government will create jobs now? Not after the President's vacation to Martha's Vineyard.
We do know the president hopes to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits; spending additional hundreds of billions of dollars we don't have.
Here’s my question to you: Should another Democrat challenge President Obama for the nomination – and if so, who?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
David in Pasadena, California:
Obama's OK. He isn't the real problem despite what Perry, Bachmann, Romney and Paul would have you believe. You can't blame Obama for the recession. That's like blaming you for the "The Jersey Shore." The Democrats should keep their political differences quiet, unify behind the president and put the so-called Republicans on notice: help or get the hell out of the way.
Jerry:
No, because it would be a suicide mission. Any serious challenge to Obama would do one of two things. Seriously weaken Obama, or nominate a candidate stripped of the power of incumbency. Both would lose.
Kim:
The Democratic Party has become a gutless and wimpy whipping boy for the Republicans. I seriously doubt if there is a Democrat in this country who has the backbone to come forward and rescue us from a Republican hell.
Michael on Facebook:
If you really want a name, Gen. Wes Clark.
Ed in California:
I know he's not a Democrat, but I'd like to see Senator Sanders run. Or even Mayor Bloomberg of New York. Outside possibility: Warren Buffett. Pres. Obama is capable. He needs better advisors and I need him to be a lot more aggressive.
Jeff in Pennsylvania:
Who would that be, Jack? They’re all on vacation.
Michael:
I think we should run two Republicans.
Cheryl in South Carolina:
Jack, my dear, I say this with great love: You have got to let go of this fantasy of Hillary running against Obama. It ain't gonna happen!