Obama Out of Step on Style and Substance

Consistent with that finding, we also asked independents why they might not vote for Obama in 2012. Nearly half (47 percent) noted that he had “not changed the way politics is conducted.”  Only 31 percent mentioned “handling of jobs and the economy.”

Misalignment on policy and deep disappointment with Obama’s style are a growing narrative about this president. As Michael Gerson observed in the Washington Post last week, his methods and tone “have made it impossible for him to maintain the pretense of being a unifying, healing, once-in-a-generation leader.”  “His challenge reaches beyond rhetoric and beyond the midterm elections: finding not only a new agenda but a new persona.”

This sounds more like a statement of fact than political advice. Either way, the president’s political iPod seems cranked up pretty loud right now.  It’s not clear he’s hearing very well.