COMMENTARY | In 2008, the majority of Americans saw President Barack Obama as a rock-star who could do no wrong. Today, they pretty much disapprove of everything he does. While the disenchantment with Hope and Change is destroying Obama's favor among voters, stress cracks between Obama and fellow Democrats threaten to collapse the party from within.
Obama has lost support in every demographic in his base; the youth, Jews, Unions, Hispanics and African-Americans. Not even the death of Osama bin Laden could breathe lasting life into his approval rating. The majority now blame him for the economic mess.
Congressional Democrats have publicly criticized Obama's jobs bill. The Hill reports Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is giving the president "the silent treatment."
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are simply fed up.
Just like in 2010, incumbent Democrats are avoiding Obama like the plague. Democrats in Virginia's state legislature even told Obama to stay away from their districts.
In early October, Michael Goodwin described in the New York Post a picture of "an isolated man trapped in a collapsing presidency" whose only happiness can be found "on the campaign trail, where the adoration of the crowd lifts his spirits."
But even that respite is starting to evade him.
At his May 2008 campaign rally in Tampa, Fla., it was standing room only in St. Pete Times Forum -- a venue that seats 21,500. For a June fundraiser in Miami only 980 people were willing to purchase tickets for the 2,200-seat Adrienne Arsht Center for Performing Arts.
In 2008, thousands came to see candidate Obama at the Mellon Center in Pittsburgh. After three years of his presidency only 300 cared to hear him speak at a South Side union hall.
Where Democrats in 2008 were "fired up," even the idea of voting in 2012 leaves them depressed.
Even the president admitted: "It's not as cool to be an Obama supporter as it was in 2008, with the posters and all that stuff."
Rasmussen and Zogby have Herman Cain leading Obama by two points.
Evolving Strategies shows Cain, Mitt Romney and Rick Perry could beat him.
Asked about the power of the GOP field of candidates, CNN reported Vice President Joe Biden saying; "It's strong enough to beat both of us."
A month ago, Politico reported Democrat strategist James Carville offering a single word of advice for the struggling president: "Panic."
Considering the steady disintegration of Obama and the entire Democrat party since then, perhaps next time Carville will be inspired to offer two words of counsel -- give up.
