Obama is Far From Invicible

Pat Sajak echoes something I posted the other day regarding approval ratings at this stage of the 2012 election cycle:

With at least one poll showing President Obama’s approval rating reaching 60 percent, there’s a growing sense of inevitability on the Democratic side and a deepening sense of foreboding in GOP circles. Before the emotions of either camp get too far out of hand, I’d like to offer a bit of recent historical perspective. At very nearly the same point in George H.W. Bush’s first (and only) term, a well-prosecuted Gulf War had moved his approval ratings to just a tick under an incredible 90 percent. Things looked so hopeless for the Democrats, nearly all the so-called first-tier candidates announced they would not be running for the nomination, leaving the field open for virtual unknowns such as Bill Clinton.

At my first (and, yes, only) State Dinner at the White House just after the war, President Bush asked how my show was doing. I told him things were pretty good, but I wished we had his ratings. The President gave a wink and a nod and said, almost wistfully, “Don’t worry. Mine will go down a lot quicker than yours.” George Bush understood the transient nature of politics and had a sense of his own frailties. I can’t know for sure, but I certainly don’t get the feeling the current Chief Executive and those around him share those insights. So buck up, gang.

This should also give some hope to the GOP. Just because a star hasn't appeared yet doesn't mean one candidate won't be able to really stand out and give Obama a real race.

Of course, Bill Clinton had something in his favor that the Obama won't have - a third party candidate like Ross Perot stealing votes from the opposition. Bill Clinton never did win a majority of the vote in either presidential election.