President Barack Obama has decided that fiery self defence and withering mockery of Republicans are the best modes of attack, as he tries to save Democrats from a drubbing in November elections. Obama road-tested his pitch to grassroots Democrats and wavering independent voters during a two-day western campaign swing last week, flinging partisan rhetoric at foes of his 17-month presidency.
His swipes at Republicans and calls for change were a reminder of stump skills that few US politicians can match, recalling his 2008 campaign. But Obama also adopted a sarcastic tone, rarely seen back then, likely distilled from months of frustrating political combat in Washington.
Mid-term elections in November are crucial for Obama, as Republicans are threatening to win back the House of Representatives and trim the Democratic majority in the Senate. Such a scenario would enable them to block the still ambitious political program the president is intent on passing.
Democrats see the polls with increasing dread - a number of party big names - including Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, are in unexpectedly tough reelection fights.
The party is hampered by the sluggish economic revival at what Obama frequently said has been a "tough time" for America. First-term presidents often take a beating at their first mid-term elections, as voters perform a course correction to previous polls. In mid-2010, Obama's political brand seems so different than in his euphoric hope-fuelled White House campaign.
His poll numbers are touching all time lows - some in the mid 40s - and US optimism is in short supply amid 9.5 percent unemployment, tumbling stocks, the dragging Afghan war and the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.
The president's response is to brand Republicans as extreme and incompetent.
In his trip through Missouri and Nevada, Obama reminded voters who was in charge when the economy pitched into the deepest recession since the 1930s and said he had made tough decisions, which staved off a second Great Depression.
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