How Watershed Week in Politics Changed the Run-Up to 2012

COMMENTARY | Even though Barack Obama's jobs speech Thursday was a predictable rehashing of the many ideologies his administration draws inspiration from, it went off without a hitch and was the best possible performance his campaign staff could have hoped for. Sure, Obama asked for nearly half a trillion dollars that will be wasted mostly on entitlement programs and extending the jobs of overpriced federal employees, but he effectively used education as shield for the bulk of the plan, which is one facet of government spending that Americans agree on more often than not.

Meanwhile, GOP frontrunners took the opportunity at the televised debate the day before to pick apart the most solid platforms the leading candidates have to stand on. Rick Perry pointed out that Mitt Romney didn't create as many jobs as he led us to believe, and Romney exposed the fact that George W. Bush created more jobs in Texas than Perry. The similarities may be too strong for the centrist middle class that sees George W. Bush's war-spending as a major factor in our current financial quagmire.

Remember, Obama can sell hope to death row inmates

Obama's approval rating has suffered after the poor handling of a national debt crisis in late July. Even Obama's own party was starting to doubt his viability as a 2012 candidate. This speech brought him some much-needed, homespun news coverage, and enjoyed a higher topical reach with every little action that led up to it. The rescheduling, the Republicans who chose to watch football instead and every single word John Boehner said made sure that even if you did watch the Packers, you were still fully aware of Obama's speech.

Ron Paul: Yes I'm serious!

While Romney and Perry were busy taking apart one another's talking points, Ron Paul took advantage of his campaign experience and strong libertarian views to take over the spotlight. In a recent poll conducted by The Associated Press, Paul has similar favorability rankings as both Romney and Perry. Even more surprising is the fact that Paul scores just as high on the subject of a potential general election face off with Obama as as the two frontrunners. If Paul is even in the AP polls, he is probably ahead in overall voter sentiment.

Mitt Romney likens Perry to a less effective George W. Bush

Romney is not particularly charismatic, but I have always considered him a masterful political strategist. His latest subtle move of painting Perry as a lesser Bush is possibly the best ammunition in this election against an executive branch veteran with a good track record on creating jobs. Conservative Republicans have no qualms with putting another Texas governor in the White House, but in a general election Perry will suffer as much or more as Obama just because of the association with current economic conditions.

If the GOP had other viable charismatic candidates on tap, Perry wouldn't have been allowed this far. It is no doubt a factor that will be exploited by Democrats in the general election. While most voters aren't going to overlook Obama's pitiful record, Bush's mistakes will be attributed to Perry on a subconscious level. Obama still couldn't beat him, but I have a strong feeling Hillary Clinton would make short work of a Texas governor.