Why House Democrats Are Scared (and Obama Isn't)

Barack Obama will stand for re-election in 2012, while the 254 Democrats in the House of Representatives will next face the voters in 2010. There will be friction. For House Democrats, whose ‘10 campaigns will succeed or fail based on the public’s confidence in Obama, it’s essential that voters feel the economy is improving – significantly – by Election Day. The White House, though, is free to take a slightly longer view. Sure, Democratic losses in ‘10 wouldn’t be helpful, but for Obama, the real target date is November 6, 2012.