'Another five years': Is Obama getting cocky?
The president tells Hispanic voters that he'll keep trying to deliver on his promise of immigration reform — in his second term
Just a few months ago, even many of President Obama's supporters calculated that his odds of re-election were uncomfortably low. But now, with the economy improving and the messy GOP nomination fight dragging on, Obama leads in a poll of 12 swing states "that will decide whether [he] is elected to a second term." And the president himself certainly sounds upbeat. In an interview with Spanish-language Univision on Thursday, Obama responded to a question about his failure to deliver on promised immigration reform by saying, "My presidency is not over. I've got another five years coming up." Of course, "another five years" assumes that Obama will win a second term. Is the president growing overconfident?
Obama is over-estimating himself: "Did the election already take place without anyone knowing?" asks Joe Newby at Examiner. Clearly, the president is getting a "bit cocky." But his confidence is largely unwarranted. While plenty of things are looking up for the Democrat, a national Gallup survey released Thursday put him four points behind Mitt Romney — and only one ahead of Rick Santorum.
"Obama: 'I've got another five years' to pass amnesty for illegal immigrants"
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Obama's confidence is warranted: Yes, Obama is "getting cocky," says Ryan McManus at Tripped Media. But he's "probably right" about a second term. The top GOP candidates "are ultimately hurting the chances of a GOP win in November" with their "terrible debate showings," internecine "squabbling," and a "lengthy barrage of negative ads." Obama, on the other hand, "just has to focus on getting stuff done, while the Republicans do his job of undermining the eventual nominee." At this rate, the president probably does have another five years left.
"Obama getting cocky, but probably right"
These comments are all about wooing Hispanics: "Obama could win in a landslide" in November, says Charles Garcia at CNN. But first he must accomplish a critical task: "Connect with Latinos." Republicans are killing themselves with this critical voting bloc by talking about "double 30-foot electrified fences," "anchor babies," and "self-deportation." But Obama also has a "dubious record" on immigration. Clearly, his latest promise is meant to encourage Hispanics to come out for him like they did in 2008, when he cleaned up with 67 percent of the Latino vote.
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