Kathleen Parker is a member of the Republican commentariat sometimes sees things more clearly than either party. She catalogues the lukewarm response of Republicans to their "weak" and "likely loser" candidate.
And she has noticed another trend over the past couple of weeks: Democrats backing away from Obama. Bill Clinton, now older (there is a suggestion that dementia is showing its first signs in the ex-president), is making little puddles of trouble for the President. He has a history of dissing Obama, dating back to the 2008 campaign.
In one television interview, Clinton praised Romney’s “sterling” business record, the same one Obama has been criticizing. In another, he said the Bush tax cuts may as well be extended since it isn’t likely that a large debt-reduction plan will be considered until after the election. This wasn’t exactly an endorsement of the tax cuts, but it wasn’t precisely on the same page as the president either. ...Parker, WaPo
There are always going to be "good weeks" and "bad weeks" during any campaign. While Romney muddles along in his usual sub-par way, Obama hit a couple of really lousy weeks at the end of May, beginning of June. Parker sees a lot of it coming from within Obama's party -- from his "supporters."
Job numbers are still lousy, and the Supreme Court may soon drop a daisy cutter on the president’s signature achievement, the Affordable Care Act.
But the fact that Obama’s surrogates can’t stick to the script may be the best barometer of his perilous incumbency. In the political jungle, where people tend to be more Darwinian than divine, he is wounded and the pack is beginning to turn. Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, who could be a hockey mom if he wore lipstick, recently told CBS’s Charlie Rose that Hillary Clinton would have been a better president.
Yes, that is blood you smell.
Romney was nearly destroyed by his own team because he was perceived as weak, a likely loser. Beware, Mr. President. The dogs of war have been let loose, and they’re not all on the other side. ...Parker, WaPo
