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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

What's Next For Obama If He's Re-elected

Summerset Thompson |
October 2, 2012 | 11:56 a.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

President Obama (Creative Commons)
President Obama (Creative Commons)
One month ago, President Barack Obama asked for more time in office. Recent polls suggest that he is within reach of that goal.  

According to The New York Times, Obama’s campaign message of “Forward” indicates that the president believes he has created the foundation for a recovered and revitalized country.

However, Obama has remained vague in regards to his second term agenda if re-elected. 

He recently released a campaign ad in which he calls for “economic patriotism.” He also said he planned to create new manufacturing jobs, cut oil imports in half, boost the education system and develop a plan to reduce the national debt.  

Ken Walsh, a White House correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, stated that, “This ad does not include the kind of detail that critics have been looking for.” 

Hopeful Democrats have already begun articulating opinions about the issues they believe Obama should tackle in his second term. With the current economy, jobs are the focus. Yet, Democratic Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have expressed their hopes that Obama confronts, immigration reform and energy policy.

Democrats have also indicated they want to terminate the Bush tax cuts on incomes of $250,000 or more.

In order to have a successful second term, Alfred J. Zacher of The Huffington Post said Obama needs to compromise with Congress. 

Current polls show that although Obama is ahead in the presidential election, the GOP maintains the lead in the battle for control of the House. Democrats are favored to hold a majority in the Senate.  

Mike Lux of The Huffington Post argued that Democrats should focus their attention on assuming control of the House to give Obama a successful second term. He said, “If we can take the House back it will make a second term so much better in terms of getting things done for the American people.”

 

Read more of Neon Tommy's coverage on the 2012 election here.

Reach Staff Reporter Summerset Thompson here.



 

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