As people's attention turns away from the 2010 mid-terms and toward the 2012 Presidential election, there is much speculation on who'll run against Obama on the GOP ticket, but what about the Dems? Will Obama, having faced plenty of disappointment from the Liberal/Progressive wing, face a more liberal opponent within the party? And, if so, would that help, or hurt, the 2012 chances of Obama and/or the Democrats in general?
Now that the attention is turning toward the 2012 Presidential election. As expected there is already much armchair quarterbacking in the press about who'll run on the GOP ticket two years from now. But the question I'd like to put across is does anyone out there think that come 2012, will Obama face a more liberal challenger?
I am asking this because of the much discussed disappointment cited by the liberal wing of the party over the fact that Obama is ramping up military efforts in Afghanistan, dragging his feet on Don't Ask Don't Tell, not fighting hard enough for the public option and cap-and-trade, and so on. Also, with the economy still very much on the ropes, the Liberals are seeing the conservatives hijacking the populist cause and not seeing Obama use his "bully pulpit" to send a clear, tough message to the independent swing voters that the Liberals did not drive the economy in the ditch, it was the fiscal mismanagement of the Bush GOP and their cronies on Wall Street!
Granted, the economy could recover significantly between now and 2012, two years are like two decades in the world of American politics, and much of this tea-party-populism could fade away as a result. Remember 1992, when there also was a seemingly endless recession, when H. Ross Perot dominated the headlines?
But, even if there is a significant recovery between now and 2012, will Obama face a challenge from a more liberal Democrat? And, if so, will it help or hurt the Democract ticket?
Back in 1980, Jimmy Carter spent much of his Presidential campaign facing a challenge for the ticket from Sen. Teddy Kennedy. The two came together by the Dem. convention, but Carter went down in flames to Reagan anyway (of course, the Iranian Hostage crisis didn't help anyway).
My question is, do you expect a more liberal Democrat to challenge Obama? If so, who do you expect to run against him? More importantly, do you think such a challenge will be a good thing or a bad thing?