Michael Scherer shrewdly notes how the Obama campaign has launched itself from the base of Obama's personal favorability rather than that of approval of Obama's policies. It makes sense given that 80 percent or more think Obama is a likable person, and 52 percent have a favorable view of him, while 48 percent approve of his actual policies. Money quote:
Obama will be running on his character. The most interesting quote of the video comes from the southern white guy. "I don't agree with Obama on everything. But I respect him and I trust him."
That's exactly what Reagan did in 1984. Remember all those liberal commentators who pointed to the unpopularity of Reagan's policies in his first time and couldn't understand why he was leaving them behind in the dust? And just as in 1984, Obama can point to an economic recovery on his watch. For good measure Obama has approval ratings 7 points above Reagan's at this point in a presidential first term.
My only concern is that Obama should not downplay his actual policy achievements. He needs to re-emphasize his role in stabilizing a world economy in free-fall, preventing the collapse of the US car industry, saving the banks and getting a surplus for it, and presiding over the seismic events in the Middle East with coolness (the one glaring exception being the rescue of Benghazi).
The Dish 