Will Obama's heartland visits convince Americans he cares?

[Louisiana1976]

SCHNECKSVILLE, Pa. — Bill Clinton famously said he felt the pain of his fellow Americans.

George H.W. Bush said it simply, if awkwardly: "Message: I care."

President Barack Obama launched his version Friday, traveling to small-town Pennsylvania to tell Americans that he empathizes with their pain from the deep recession, that he's working hard all the time to create jobs and that his plans will work.

It was the first of occasional presidential tours to towns and cities that have been hit hard by the recession, a campaign-like effort to connect to Americans at a time when they may not think he's paying enough attention to their top priority: jobs.

The president's poll numbers have dropped and the prospects are daunting for Democrats who must face the voters next year, such as Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, a recent convert to the party and its crucial 60th vote in the Senate.

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http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/80103.html

[bluestateguy]

1. Is this reporter being mentored by Adam Nagourney?

:eyes:

[DJ13]

2. Empathy doesnt put food on the table

So no.

[doc03]

3. No the American people are too f----g stupid

to figure out you can't undo 8 years of destruction to the economy overnight.

[havocmom]

4. agree, with exception: damage to economy has gone on a lot longer than 8 years

Been going down the crapper (really, for working & middle classes that actually drive it) since at least Reagan.

But, yeah, there are too many stupid people who think all it takes to fix everything is one election night.

[doc03]

7. I agree it goes back to Reagan, when the Unions

didn't stand up for their brothers in the ATC Union. It's been a race to the bottom ever since.

[anonymous171]

5. No, they supported FDR even though he did fully alleviate Unemployment

The American people are smart. They know what Obama is doing. They know that it is not really going to help them.

[doc03]

8. I know you don't want to hear this but it was war production

that finally brought us out of the depression.

[cabluedem]

6. The conservatives are blaming this mess on Obama. Bush and Reagan was thier heros. No fixing stupid.

[doc03]

9. For Chrissake I see more on DU blaming Obama than on

the Faux News Channel.

[Sherman A1]

10. +1