Despite Obama’s Policies, The Rust Belt’s Revival Could Save His Campaign

The Daily Beast ^ | June 25, 2012 | Joel Kotkin

[C19fan]

Barack Obama’s political base always has been more “creative class” than working class—and his policies have favored that base, seeming to cater to energized issue and identity constituencies including African-Americans, Hispanics, gays, and greens, often at the expense of blue-collar workers. Yet improving conditions for those workers—particularly in the industrial heartland—could save his flagging presidency. The industrial zone’s four key states—Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania—constitute the most critically contested territory in this year’s contest. Fifty-four electoral votes are at play here, with Pennsylvania’s 20 votes alone equaling all those at stake in the much-ballyhooed battleground of the Intermountain West (Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico).

[C19fan]

Possible irony that the reforms being instituted by the GOP governors in MI, OH, WI and PA might held get Zero reelected. One might add the fracking boom in PA no thanks to Obama.

[cripplecreek]

I've got mixed feelings on our revival.

[ScottinVA]

Ditto for VA as well. We`ve had a couple good years since Bob McDonnell took office as Governor.

Yet, here comes 0bama to claim credit for the low employment and job growth.

[C19fan]

McDonnell has been a good governor but the prosperity in NoVa is due to Obama. The Imperial Capital is prosperous with Emperor Obama on the throne.

[C19fan]

McDonnell has been a good governor but the prosperity in NoVa is due to Obama. The Imperial Capital is prosperous with Emperor Obama on the throne.

[ScottinVA]

True by virtue of government growth, but the private sector has grown substantially throughout the rest of the state.

My skin crawls everytime the cringeworthy 0bama campaigns in this state.

[HamiltonJay]

HAHAHAHA this is beyond wishful thinking

Obama will only carry IL and MN..the idea the RUST BELT will save him is beyond comical.

He has done everything in his power to disenfranchise working class white folks, (blue dog dems) which are abandoning him in droves across the rust belt. The idea he’s going to hold OH, IN, WI, PA and MI is laughable.

If he can’t win MI, he sure as hell won’t win any other state other than MN and IL and if he loses MN, he’ll lose more new england states than just NH.

[tomkat]

Country folk are more familiar with the truth of "all hat, no cattle" than urbanites will ever be.

PA will go ABØ and the marxist maggøt will go down in richly deserved flames of ignominy.

/.02