Obama's Reelection Strategy: Stay Out of Sight

President Obama formally launched his re-election bid yesterday, but only because he needs to get the donation machine running. "If it weren't for that, Obama would be delighted to stay on the sidelines because his whole reelection strategy requires going on semi-hiatus from the presidency," writes Jonah Goldberg in the Los Angeles Times. The White House clearly overexposed Obama in his first two years, and it's paying the price.

The thing is, even when Obama used his bully pulpit over and over in those early days, it didn't seem to work. "Nearly all of his victories have stemmed not from presidential persuasion of the opposition or the public but from relying on the congressional Democrats' majority," writes Goldberg. "I understand why Obama is lying low. What's less understandable is why so many Republicans are scared of him." (More President Obama stories.)