Does Obama even want a second term?
Obama supporters and political reporters are still trying to explain Obama's listless debate showing, and some suggest that his heart just isn't in the race

Add President Obama to the list of Democrats unimpressed with his performance in the first presidential debate against Mitt Romney. After marveling that Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, and other musicians who'd played at a Sunday fundraiser for him "just perform flawlessly, night after night," Obama quipped that sadly, "I can't always say the same." The audience laughed, but other Obama supporters aren't so amused, says Byron York at The Washington Examiner. In fact "for some liberal writers, the concern goes deeper": What if his "lackluster" debate "was an indication that he doesn't even want a second term as president"? Well, does he?
If Obama wants to win, he must prove it: The president has now been "pretty terrible" in three nationally televised performances: The debate, his convention speech, and a 60 Minutes interview, says Michael Tomasky at The Daily Beast. So it's time for the "cut-to-the-chase question:" Is Obama "maybe tired of being president?" If the answer is no — and I hope it is — then he needs to send "a forceful signal that he has the zest for the job for another four years," and fast.
"Does Obama even want to win the election?"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The debate was just an off night: For a president "such as Obama who is not wholly a freak or narcissist, the job entails unique psychic fatigue," says Henry Porter at Britain's The Observer. But the listless Obama of debate night was gone by the next day, possibly vanquished by Mitt Romney's brazen, dishonest pandering; it was clear that the president who showed up to his late-week rallies "still has an appetite for the job." Democrats are self-defeatingly casting about for what's wrong with Obama, but the likeliest explanation is simply that "he had an off day — we all do."
"Has a disillusioned Barack Obama lost the will to win?"
Obama's just not a very good debater: Actually, the best explanation might be that Obama is "overrated as a candidate," says Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post. He's a cerebral pragmatist who's not comfortable throwing punches, and "he's a terrible faker" — it was pretty obvious Obama didn't want to be on stage with Romney last Wednesday. The president has his strengths: He's "the single most talented big-speech giver (the convention speech notwithstanding) and fundraiser currently operating in politics." But his limitations make him uniquely unsuited for modern TV debates.
"Is Obama overrated as a candidate?"
Read more political coverage at The Week's 2012 Election Center.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Scientists want to fight malaria by poisoning mosquitoes with human blood
Under the radar Drugging the bugs
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: March 31, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff Published
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published