With this current GOP field, would a weak economy still grant Obama a 2nd term?

[sg0508]

It's always about the economy, but the opposing party has to present a viable candidate.  I look at the GOP hopefuls right now and to me, it's laughable.  Bad economy or not, I don't see any of them doing much better than Mac did in 2008.  While youth turnout may dip this time, I doubt it makes a difference and of course, once the GOP starts yapping about social bulls..t again and not the economy or jobs, the suburbanites will likely vote democratic again.

[Paul Kemp]

That seemed to be the consensus until people changed their minds about two weeks ago.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Mitt Romney seems very John Kerry-ish. He's not exciting, he has major flaws, and it's not likely that he'll beat the incumbent. Still, it's not outside the realm of possibility, especially if the economy stays bad or worsens. After all, Mitt Romney could probably dance circles around Obama on issues of the economy. It's certainly never been the president's strong suit. (To be fair, it wasn't McCain's strong suit either, and the public likely did the right thing choosing Obama's team of economic advisors over a McCain team inherited from Bush.)

Someone like Michele Bachmann, however, would get bent over by the president like nobody's business.

[HST1948]

Mitt Romney seems very John Kerry-ish. He's not exciting, he has major flaws, and it's not likely that he'll beat the incumbent. Still, it's not outside the realm of possibility, especially if the economy stays bad or worsens. After all, Mitt Romney could probably dance circles around Obama on issues of the economy. It's certainly never been the president's strong suit. (To be fair, it wasn't McCain's strong suit either, and the public likely did the right thing choosing Obama's team of economic advisors over a McCain team inherited from Bush.)

Someone like Michele Bachmann, however, would get bent over by the president like nobody's business.

I agree completely, and lol at your last sentence. 

[Simfan34]

Mitt Romney seems very John Kerry-ish. He's not exciting, he has major flaws, and it's not likely that he'll beat the incumbent. Still, it's not outside the realm of possibility, especially if the economy stays bad or worsens. After all, Mitt Romney could probably dance circles around Obama on issues of the economy. It's certainly never been the president's strong suit. (To be fair, it wasn't McCain's strong suit either, and the public likely did the right thing choosing Obama's team of economic advisors over a McCain team inherited from Bush.)

Someone like Michele Bachmann, however, would get bent over by the president like nobody's business.

True, very true. Kerry, but only more opportunist.

Which is why we need Jon Huntsman.

[anvi]

As has been said already, it depends on who the opposing nominee is.  The opposing nominee at least can't turn people off, and has to convince them that they know how to help the private sector create jobs.  But bad economies, and certainly bad labor markets, leave even otherwise good first-term presidents extremely vulnerable to defeat. 

[MyRescueKittehRocks]

Mitt Romney seems very John Kerry-ish. He's not exciting, he has major flaws, and it's not likely that he'll beat the incumbent. Still, it's not outside the realm of possibility, especially if the economy stays bad or worsens. After all, Mitt Romney could probably dance circles around Obama on issues of the economy. It's certainly never been the president's strong suit. (To be fair, it wasn't McCain's strong suit either, and the public likely did the right thing choosing Obama's team of economic advisors over a McCain team inherited from Bush.)

Someone like Michele Bachmann, however, would get bent over by the president like nobody's business.

I agree completely, and lol at your last sentence. 

It's Mr. Obama who will get bent over and taken out to the woodshed by those tea partiers (Bachamann, Cain, Paul)

[TheGlobalizer]

The field isn't weak, the GOP just isn't sure what it wants.  The Tea Partiers are unelectable and the moderates are RINOs, in the current parlance.

I suspect the Tea Partiers will realize that local politics won't fly here and will pick someone with crossover/national appeal.

I do think that Huntsman is the only one on the list who has that.  I would have included T-Paw but he's too much of a ing pussy.

[Username MechaRFK]

Only if it's John Huntsman or Mitt Romney.
 

[Kevin]

Of course with the current field dominated by ether two vulnerable RINO's andthe rest consisting of unelectable Tea Parter's as the other candidates, I wonder if any other the heavyweight candidates that previously declined will enter the race. I.e Huckabee, Thune, Daniel's etc.  

[sg0508]

Thune would be a great candidate in my opinion.  He's humble, conservative, yet he doesn't spring the "ignorance" that some of the other conservatives do.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I am getting sicker and sicker of hearing "Jon Huntsman is the only man who can save our party!"

[Simfan34]

I am getting sicker and sicker of hearing "Jon Huntsman is the only man who can save our party!"

Why am I not surprised?

[sg0508]

I am getting sicker and sicker of hearing "Jon Huntsman is the only man who can save our party!"

That's because the party does need saving.  With the current economic conditions, any viable candidate should be blowing Barack Obama away in the polls, or at least be gaining traction.  That GOP debate a few weeks ago was comical.  I know Republicans who watched that debate and were ready to throw remotes through tvs based upon the parade of losers up there.