Nation divided over Obama’s prospects in the next Presidential elections

In 2008, millions put their faith in Barack Obama’s promise that change was coming to America. There has certainly been a lot of change since his optimistic inauguration. In one short term, Obama has withdrawn most troops from Afghanistan, ended Osama Bin Laden’s rule, intervened in Libya, reformed the healthcare system, and made a $787 billion Economic Stimulus Package.  

However, a growing number of Americans are wondering whether Obama really can "fix it" after all. The President insists that he "didn’t over-promise" during his campaign, and "didn’t underestimate how tough" it was going to be, but the initial sense of hope and optimism that he heralded appears to have largely vanished. As often happens during a US President’s first time in office, his popularity has plummeted, although he currently remains more popular than the leading Republican challenger, Newt Gingrich.

The United States is split over whether they still have faith in President Obama. In a recent survey, respondents were asked their view of the likelihood of him being re-elected in 2012, regardless of their personal vote. Overall, 40% said they thought it was likely and 45% thought it was unlikely, with 15% undecided. Men were more optimistic about Obama’s chances than women, with 44% of males (next to just 38% of women) believing that he will be re-elected.  

One of the bigger factors affecting whether Obama will enjoy a second term in office is if he can resolve the debt crisis.

Many voters hold the President responsible for solving the biggest economic slump since the great depression. And while his huge stimulus package has led to falling rates of unemployment, this is a mere glimmer of good news in a vastly depressing economic landscape.

Defending himself in a recent interview, Obama says he cannot be blamed for the current financial situation - reversing structural problems in the economy that have been "building up for two decades" was, he explains, going to take "more than one term" and probably "more than one president."

The health care reform is Obama’s biggest legislative achievement, but also the most controversial with outspoken critics on both sides, and court challenges in most states.  The recent survey asked US respondents whether they supported the bill. 35% do, although the majority (44%) oppose it. 21% of US respondents were undecided - the majority of these being women. Regardless of the results of online surveys, the future of the bill lies in the hands of the court challenge, and in President Obama’s success in the 2012 election.