… George Edwards, an expert on presidents and public opinion at Texas A&M University, says that Obama has become, in a sense, a Reverse Reagan. President Reagan’s policy views were seen at the time as out of step with the mainstream, but he transcended that. “When Reagan ran for reelection against Walter Mondale, Mondale won on most of the issues. What trumped all of that was that Reagan was viewed as a strong, competent leader,” Edwards said.
By contrast, Obama remains earthbound, pinned down especially by his waffling on Syria last year and the ACA’s botched rollout, both of which, Edwards said, added to “creeping questions about the president’s competence.” CONT.
James Oliphant, National Journal