INQUISITR.COM / News & Politics

Obama’s Approval Spiking — Is He Paving The Way For Hillary?

By Nancy Bailey
Published on: 04:42 PST, May 29, 2016

If President Obama could run for a third term, “he’d be reelected in a walk,” according New York-based Democratic strategist Jonathan Rosen.

Obama may be Hillary Clinton’s “ace in the hole,” according to the Hill. As Clinton struggles with an email scandal and tanking popularity among the younger sect, support from the president may be what she needs to overcome her setbacks.

At least, that is what Rosen believes.

“He can play a huge role in bringing the Democratic base and independents together to unite behind her candidacy.”

Democratic strategist Evan Stavisky agrees.

“It is obviously a challenge to win the White House for three straight elections and as a candidate, as a front-runner, everyone takes shots at you. But that challenge can be overcome when you have a popular sitting president.”

Donald Trump has accused Hillary’s campaign of being “rigged,” using the presidential support for the Democratic front runner to boost his own agenda.

Stravinsky said that Hillary is running against someone who is “outside the political norm.”

“Donald Trump is not just an outsider; he actually frightens a lot of people.”

Part of Obama’s popularity is due to contrast, according to Grant Reeher, professor of political science at Syracuse University.

“I think that he personally has been helped by what has happened in both primaries — but particularly the Republican one — which reminded people why they liked the guy eight years ago.”

Traditionally, it is unusual for the same party to be elected once a president has held office for eight years. Ronald Reagan broke the mold, since Republican George Bush followed his term. But Rehear admitted that Obama may not wield as much influence.

“I don’t think (Obama) is in the position of a Ronald Reagan at this point. The Republicans really have set themselves in opposition to him in a way that mainstream Democrats did not, at least to the same extent, with Reagan. So in terms of him being a unifier beyond Democrats, I’m not so sure.”

The State Department seems to be doing all it can to mop up Hillary’s email spill. According to Politico, lawyers for the Justice Department are resisting a request by a conservative group, Judicial Watch, that Clinton be subpoenaed to give a sworn deposition in a lawsuit.

The case, which is Benghazi-related, was deemed “completely inappropriate” by the Justice Department.

“Judicial Watch makes no attempt here to justify why the witnesses it names would provide any relevant information that is not redundant and cumulative of the discovery that has already been ordered and initiated.”

Aides of Clintons have also been deposed on the basis of the Freedom of Information Act, including her former chief of staff Cheryl Mills and her assistant Huma Abedin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtLxhOpi1Q0

Critics point out that US Attorney General Loretta Lynch would be the one determine whether to open a criminal investigation into Clinton’s affairs, which may prove to be a conflict of interest. Before becoming attorney general, Lynch served as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Lynch was first appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1999.

President Obama put the smackdown on reporters asking about Hillary’s emails during his trip to Hiroshima.

“We’re in Japan, don’t you have something to do with Asia that we want to talk about? I’ll be talking about this in Washington the whole time.

“I’ve already said a lot on those issues — I think these are better directed to the campaign.”

According to Washington Times, President Obama went on to point out that campaign questions should be delegated to campaigners.

“During the course of the primary, people say things that they think will help them get some votes, and once the campaign is over, they move on. The noise that is going back and forth between the candidates at this point … if you want insights into how they’re thinking about it, those [questions] should be directed to them.”

[Photo by Susan Walsh/AP]

Share this article: Obama’s Approval Spiking — Is He Paving The Way For Hillary?
More from Inquisitr